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PEN  AND  INK  PORTRAITS 


SENATORS,  ASSEMBLYMEN, 


AND 


STATE    OFFICERS, 


STATE  OF  NEW  YORK. 


BY  G.  W.  BUNGAY, 

Author  of  "  Crayon  Sketches,  or  Off-  Hand  Takings,"  "  Nebraska,"  "  The 
Know  Nothing,"  "Pulpit  Sketches,"  etc. 


ALBANY: 

J.  MUNSELL,  PRINTER,  78  STATE  STREET. 
1857. 


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Lowell  City  Library. 

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PEN  AND  INK  PORTRAITS. 


E.  W.  ABBOTT, 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  at  Hopkinton,  St.  Lawrence 
county,  July  26th,  1819,  and  is,  consequently,  thirty-seven*  years  of 
age.  He  is  a  farmer  and  trader. 

His  early  political  associations  were  Democratic;  but  his  democracy 
was  of  the  old  Jeffersonian  school.  He  supported  Martin  Van  Buren 
in  '48,  but  when,  in  '49,  the  two  sections  of  the  democracy  united, 
he  refused  to  abandon  the  flag  of  freedom,  to  enlist  under  the  black 
banner  of  oppression.  In  '52  he  supported  John  P.' Hale  for  the 
presidency. 

Mr.  Abbott  was  first  elected  to  the  Legislature  in  the  fa]l  of  '55,  and 
served  with  so  much  fidelity  to  his  constituents  and  credit  to  himself 
that  he  was  unanimously  re-nominated,  and  re-elected  by  over  eighteen 
hundred  majority.  He  is  chairman  of  the  committee  on  engrossed 
bills. 

Mr.  Abbott's  religion  is  of  the  practical  kind,  consisting  of  deeds, 
not  professions.  Firm  and  decided  in  his  convictions,  he  can  never 
be  swerved  from  what  he  considers  to  be  right  and  proper.  He  was 
a  warm  supporter  of  Preston  King  for  United  States  Senator. 

He  is  about  five  feet  five  inches  in  height,  has  a  pleasant  counten- 
ance— brown  hair  and  brown  eyes — seldom  speaks  in  public,  but  can 
think  and  work  in  the  harness  of  liberty. 

Mr.  Abbott  is  the  architect  and  builder  of  his  own  fortune.  He  was 
a  poor  boy,  but  owing  to  his  industrious  habits  has  secured  a  com- 
fortable competency,  has  been  supervisor  of  the  town,  justice  of  the 
peace,  &c. 

S.  CAREY  ADAMS, 

One  of  the  most  useful,  valuable  and  trustworthy  members  of  the 
House,  represents  the  Fourth  District  in  Erie  county.  He  was  a  Whig 
until  '48,  when  he  mounted  the  Buffalo  platform,  and  has  ever  since 
that  time  been  a  Free  Soiler.  He  was  six  years  town  superintendent 
of  schools  in  the  town  of  Collins,  where  he  lives,  also  supervisor  of 
the  town  for  two  years ;  also  clerk  of  the  board  of  supervisors  two 
years.  Last  fall  he  was  elected  to  the  Assembly  by  a  majority  of  four 


hundred  votes.  He  is  a  member  of  the  committee  on  Indian  affairs, 
also  of  the  sub-committee  of  the  whole.  He  rarely  speaks,  but  when 
he  rises  in  his  place  he  speaks  to  some  purpose.  He  attends  the 
Methodist  church,  is  a  carpenter  by  trade,  has  taught  school — now  fol- 
lows daguerreo typing.  Mr.  Adams  is  thirty-six  years  of  age,  is  a 
native  of  Columbia  county,  a  man  of  ordinary  stature,  pale  com- 
plexion, light  blue  eyes,  brpwn  hair,  and  a  face  of  transparent  hones- 
ty. He  is  an  out-and-out  temperance  man,  and  has  as  much  influence 
as  a  score  of  men  who  are  bobbing  up  and  down  during  every  session 
of  the  House.  He  has  a  good  head  on  his  shoulders,  and  a  brave 
heart  in  his  bosom.  He  is  a  self-taught  man,  having  devoted  his  leisure 
time  to  study,  and  takes  a  deep  interest  in  the  great  questions  of 
the  day. 

DARIUS  ALLEN, 

The  member  of  the  present  Legislature,  from  the  city  of  Troy,  county 
of  Rensselaer,  is  a  true  specimen  of  what  may  be  attained  by  in- 
dividual effort  and  untiring  energy.  He  was  born  in  the  city  of  Troy 
in  1810,  of  humble  parentage,  and  at  the  age  of  four  years  left  an 
orphan;  he  then  went  to  reside  with  an  uncle,  and  it  may  truly  be 
said  that  he  was  "  brought  up  at  the  plow  tail,"  being  wholly  deprived 
of  the  advantages  to  be  acquired  at  the  then  district  school. 

Having  attained  his  majority  he  commenced  political  life  as  a  De- 
mocra,t,  and  was  frequently  elected  to  offices  of  honor  and  trust  in 
the  .town  where  he  resided,  performing  their  various  duties  alike 
creditable  to  himself  and  satisfactorily  to  his  constituents. 

Removing  to  the  city  of  Troy  his  democratic  "faith"  would  not 
permit  him  to  remain  idle,  and  his  "  works  "  for  the  success  of  the 
democratic  party  soon  became  manifest  in  his  being  elected  first  a 
supervisor  and  subsequently  a  member  of  the  common  council,  al- 
though the  ward  in  which  he  resided  was  deemed  a  stronghold  of  the 
opposition,  and  at  the  election  last  fall  he  was  elected  to  represent  the 
people  of  the  city  of  Troy  in  the  Assembly  of  this  state,  the  records 
of  which  abundantly  show  that  the  industry  and  attention  to  legis- 
lative matters  consequent  upon  success,  are  not  wanting  in  their  re- 
presentative. 

Although  a  Democrat  of  the  "  straitest  sect "  and  a  shrewd  politi- 
cian, the  "pomp  and  circumstance  of  glorious  war"  attracted  his  at- 
tention at  an  early  day,  and  he  has  risen  successively  from  the  ranks 
to  the  position  which  he  now  holds,  that  of  brigadier  general,  com- 
manding the  tenth  brigade  of  the  military  of  this  state. 

By  a  strict  attention  to  business  and  an  inflexible  integrity  which 
secures  confidence  among  men,  Gen.  Allen  stands  now  the  successful 
merchant,  an  able  general  and  an  honorable  and  upright  legislator, 
who  has  won  the  esteem  of  his  associates  by  his  ease  of  address  and 
frankness  of  manner  in  their  associations. 

In  persqn  Mr.  Allen  is  well  formed,  rather  above  the  medium  stature, 
has  brown  hair,  blue  eyes,  a  round  thoughtful  face,  the  features  of 
which  indicate  earnestness,  energy  and  decision  of  character.  Any 
person  can  discover  at  a  glance  that  he  is  not  a  man  to  be  trifled  with ; 


but  he  is  a  true  friend  who  always  maintains  the  character  and  dig- 
nity of  a  gentleman. 

LEONARD  AMES 

Comes  from  Mexico — not  that  section  of  North  America  which  has 
been  the  bone  of  contention  in  Congress,  but  a  "smart"  town  in  the' 
empire  state.  He  is  about  thirty  years  of  age;  was  formerly  a  Whig 
of  the  Seward  stripe.  Luke  Smith  was  his  opponent  in  the  late  can- 
vass, and  it  was  playfully  said  that  although  Luke  could  play  "brag" 
to  the  best  advantage,  Leonard  would  win  the  game  at  the  ballot-box, 
and  the  remark  is  now  numbered  among  the  truths  told  in  a  joke. 

Mr.  Ames  is  a  private  banker  and  farmer  of  considerable  substance, 
and  a  temperance  man  from  principle.  He  is  a  shrewd  politician,  not 
given  to  speech-making,  and  is  not  expected  to  become  a  floor  mem- 
ber. He  is  a  man  of  common  size;  wears  a  round,  pleasant  face;  is 
sociable,  friendly  and  agreeable,  and  will  discharge  the  duties  of  his 
office  with  honor  to  himself  and  credit  to  his  constituents.  This  is 
his  first  appearance  in  public  life.  He  belongs  to  a  family  distinguished 
for  their  excellent  morality  and  strong  common  sense.  May  they  ever 
aim  at  the  right,  and  never  miss  the  mark. 

Mr.  Ames  is  on  the  committee  of  insurance. 

JOSEPH  ATWATER, 

A  name  suggestive  of  good  habits — and  the  good  book  says  that  a 
"good  name  is  rather  to  be  chosen  than  choice  silver."  Mr.  Atwater 
is  a  native  of  Homer,  Courtland  county;  was  brought  up  on  a  farm, 
but  has  devoted  several  years  of  his  life  to  teaching;  has  been  super- 
visor of  the  town  in  which  he  lives ;  superintendent  of  common 
schools;  justice  of  the  peace,  &c.  He  attends  the  Congregational 
church ;  was  formerly  a  Whig,  but  now  ranks  himself  with  the  Re- 
publican army.  He  is  a  quiet  but  industrious  member  >  and  hostile  to 
all  the  flam  and  sham  of  Buncombe  oratory.  Mr.  Atwater  is  forty- 
three  years  of  age,  of  common  size  and  stature;  has  a  round,  pleasant 
face,  sharp-brown  eyes,  dark  hair  and  auburn  whiskers.  He  is  on  the 
committee  of  engrossed  bills  and  on  the  joint  library  committee. 
Of  course  he  is  friendly  to  the  temperance  movement,  or  he  would 
not  be  worthy  the  name  he  wears. 

TOBIAS  BOUCK 

Represents  the  First  District  of  Schoharie  county,  where  he  earned  a 
reputation  for  unswerving  integrity  and  true  courage,  while  acting— 
first  as  undersheriff.  and  afterwards  sheriff  of  the  county  during  the 
anti-rent  war,  when  it  was  as  much  as  a  man's  life  was  worth  to  at- 
tempt to  execute  the  laws. 

He  is  a  Democrat,  opposed  to  the  Maine  law,  a  farmer,  attends  the 
Dutch  Reformed  church,  is  fiftyyears  of  age,  and  of  common  stature; 
his  face  indicates  unyielding  firmness  and  daring  courage.  He  is  a 
nephew  of  Ex-Governor  Bouck,  and  is  worthy  of  the  honored  name 
he  bears. 


6 

Mr.  Bouck  was  born  in  1800  in  Schoharie  county.  His  father  died 
when  he  was  two  years  of  age;  when  a  mere  lad  he  was  induced  to 
make  efforts  to  improve  his  mind,  working  during  the  summer  season 
and  studying  during  the  winter  months.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he 
learned  a  trade;  was  married  at  twenty-four  and  fried  his  fortune  at 
•farming.  In  1842  he  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  a  large  stun  of  money, 
the  accumulated  earnings  and  savings  of  years  of  industry  and  economy; 
but  he  was  not  discouraged;  like  a  true  hero  he  commenced  the  battle 
of  life  again,  and  in  a  few  years  paid  his  debts  and  acquired  a  hand- 
some estate.  He  is  on  the  committee  of  roads  and  bridges,  and  on 
internal  affairs  of  towns  and  counties;  is  always  at  his  seat,  rain  or 
shine,  and  spends  much  of  his  time  at  his  desk  during  the  recess  be- 
tween the  sessions. 

HEZEKIAH    BAKER. 

Mr.  Baker's  father  was  of  English  descent  and  came  from  Rhode 
Island  where  his  ancestors  had  lived  for  a  long  time  before  the  re- 
volutionary war,  about  the  year  1796,  and  settled  for  a  short  time  in 
Rensselaer  count}',  from  whence  he  afterwards  removed  to  the  county 
of  Montgomery,  where  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  and  now 
lives.  His  mother  was  of  Welch  descent,  her  ancestors  having  emi- 
grated to  the  state  of  New  York  a  little  before  the  revolution. 

Mr.  Baker's  parents  being  poor,  and  having  a  large  family  to  sup- 
port, gave  him  away  to  an  uncle  by  marriage  to  his  father's  sister, 
with  whom  he  lived  for  some  four  or  five  years. 

Soon  after  going  to  live  with  his  uncle  his  father  died,  leaving  his 
mother  with  a  large  family  of  children  to  support,  without  any  means 
to  do  it  with;  this  occurred  before  Mr.  Baker's  recollection,  as  he 
has  no  distinct  recollection  of  his  father. 

During  the  time  he  lived  with  his  uncle  he  attended  a  common 
school  about  two  months  each  winter,  acquiring:  the  elements  of 
reading,  writing  and  arithmetic,  though  in  quite  a  limited  degree. 

One  of  the  earliest  incidents  of  which  Mr.  B.  has  any  recollection, 
was  a  fight  on  the  first  day  of  his  attendance  at  school  with  a  young 
man  who  had  insulted  him  and  attempted  to  bully  him — an  incident 
illustrative  of  one  of  the  predominant  traits  in  his  character,  resist- 
ance against  the  overbearing  and  tyrannical. 

After  living  with  his  uncle  for  four  or  five  years,  near  Hagaman's 
mills  in  Montgomery  county,  he  became  discontented  with  his  situation 
and  prospects,  and  ran  away  from  his  uncle  and  aunt  against  their 
wishes,  and  hired  out  by  the  month  to  work  on  a  farm  at  stipulated 
wages  for  some  two  years,  after  which  he  entered  into  an  agree- 
ment with  a  gentleman  to  learn  the  shoemaking  trade,  by  which  he 
was  to  work  for  three  years  at  wages  scarcely  sufficient,  to  keep  him 
in  clothes  and  without  any  schooling.  He  continued  at  that  trade 
for  about  two  years  learning  with  rapidity  and  ease,  but  finding  he 
had  made  a  hard  bargain,  and  becoming  disgusted  with  the  irksome 
monotony  of  the  shop  and  the  subjection  of  his  apprenticeship,  made 
a  new  bargain  with  his  "  boss,"  by  which  he  bought  the  unexpired 
part  of  his  time  at  a  sum  much  larger  than  it  should  have  cost  him, 
but  which  he  fully  paid  and  satisfied. 


Having  bought  and  paid  for  his  time  and  getting  a  release  from  his 
"  boss,"  he  began  the  study  of  the  higher  branches  of  English  educa- 
tion, and  after  pursuing  the  same  for  a  few  months  commenced  teach- 
ing a  common  school  in  the  county  of  Fulton. 

At  the  time  Mr.  B.  began  to  teach,  he  was  wholly  deficient  in  some 
branches  and  but  poorly  qualified  in  others,  for  the  duties  he  assumed; 
yet  by  constant  and  hopeful  efforts  and  industry,  he  soon  acquired 
such  a  practical  facility  in  imparting  his  knowledge  with  precision 
and  logical  clearness,  as  to  become  a  very  successful  teacher.  He  con- 
tinued teaching,  filling  up  his  vacations  and  intervals  while  not  teach- 
ing, with  studying  latin  and  the  higher  branches  of  mathematics  and 
mental,  moral  and  natural  philosophy,  until  the  spring  of  1842. 

Mr.  B's.  natural  taste  led  him  to  the  study  of  metaphysical  and 
moral  science,  to  which  he  devoted  himself  with  the  greatest  zest. 

In  the  spring  of  1842,  he  began  the  study  of  law  at  Johnston,  Ful- 
ton county,  with  the  Hon.  Donald  Mclntyre,  then  first  judge  of  the 
Court  of  Common  Pleas  of  that  county,  where  he  continued  under  the 
instruction  of  Judge  Mclntyre  (who  was  a  gentleman  of  fine  legal 
attainments,  a  well  balanced  and  cultivated  mind),  until  the  year 
1845,  when  he  was  elected  a  justice  of  the  peace,  to  fill  a  vacancy  of 
about  two  years ;  at  the  same  time  continuing  his  legal  studies  in  the 
office  of  George  Yost,  Esq.,  until  the  spring  of  1846,  when  Mr.  Yost 
removing  to  Fort  Plain,  Montgomery  county,  Mr.  B.  went  into  the 
office  of  John  Wells  of  Johnstown,  and  there  remained  till  October  of 
the  same  year,  when  he  was  examined  and  admitted  as  an  attorney 
at  the  general  term  of  the  Supreme  Court  held  at  Rochester. 

During  the  whole  time  of  his  legal  studies  Mr.  B.  was  so  poor  that 
he  was  obliged  to  keep  bachelor's  hall,  to  live  within  his  means; 
contributing  at  the  same  time  to  the  support  and  education  of  a 
sister. 

After  his  admission  as  an  attorney  of  the  Supreme  Court  he  re- 
mained at  Johnstown  until  the  spring  of  1847,  when  he  removed  to 
and  settled  at  St.  Johnsville  in  Montgomery  county,  where  he  still 
resides.  Having  no  means  to  purchase  a  library  he  borrowed  a  small 
sum,  which  he  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  a  few  practical  works  and 
then  waited  patiently  until  his  business  afforded  him  the  means  of 
enlarging  his  library,  which  he  has  gradually  done  until  he  has  a  fair 
country  library. 

Mr.  B.  has  had  a  fair  professional  business  and  success  from  the 
time  he  began ;  but  has  never  bad  any  extraordinary  incidents  of  a 
professional  character. 

As  a  lawyer  he  enjoys  the  reputation  of  a  sound  judgment  for  legal 
discrimination,  acuteness  in  discovering  the  mental  and  moral  cha- 
racteristics of  witnesses  and  jurors,  and  the  legal  weight  and  bearing 
of  evidence  in  a  case.  His  arguments  before  a  jury  or  court  are 
directed  more  by  the  reasoning  of  his  own  mind  than  by  the  authority 
of  books.  He  enjoys  the  confidence  of  all  who  know  him,  for  his 
love  of  justice  and  fidelity  to  his  client. 

In  November,  1853,  Mr.  B.  was  elected  a  member  of  Assembly 
from  the  Second  District  in  Montgomery  county,  by  the  Whig  party. 


8 

He  was  opposed  by  Doct.  Uriah  Potter,  a  Free  Soil  Maine  Law  Demo- 
crat, and  by  Urelius  Birge,  a  Hunker  Anti-Maine  Law  Democrat, 
both  of  Minden,  Montgomery  county ;  Mr.  Baker  receiving  1168,  Mr. 
Birge,  629,  and  Mr.  Potter  607  votes. 

He  was  appointed  chairman  of  the  standing  committee  on  privileges 
and  elections,  and  a  member  of  the  judiciary  committee  for  the  ses- 
sion of  1854.  There  were  two  contested  seats  in  the  Assembly  that 
year. 

A  large  majority  of  both  Houses  of  the  party  to  which  Mr.  B. 
belonged  were  in  favor  of  the  Maine  law,  but  at  an  early  period  of 
the  debates  on  that  question,  Mr.  B.  took  a  bold  and  uncompromising 
stand  against  the  law,  on  the  ground  of  its  unconstitutionality,  that 
it  is  impolitic  and  premature,  against  the  popular  will,  and  unjust 
and  immoral  in  its  effects  upon  the  public  mind,  and  that  its  passage 
would  retard  the  progress  of  true  reform. 

In  all  his  discussions  on  this  subject,  Mr.  B.  denounced  drunken- 
ness as  a  vice,  and  declared  it  the  duty  of  the  goverment  to  punish  it 
as  such.  The  veto  message  of  Governor  Seymour  returning  the  bill 
to  the  House,  embraced  substantially  Mr.  B.'s  arguments  in  a  more 
elaborate  and  finished  form. 

Among  the  projects  of  that  year  was  the  passage  of  a  law  to  incor- 
porate companies  to  navigate  the  lakes,  rivers  and  canals  of  the  state ; 
Mr.  B.  opposed  it  as  a  measure  to  build  up  monopolies  and  depress 
boatmen  of  small  means.  He  made  a  good  speech  on  the  subject,  but 
the  press  being  friendly  to  the  measure  never  published  it. 

He  took  an  active  part  in  aiding  tfie  passage  of  the  bill  to  facilitate 
the  acquisition  of  surgical  knowledge,,  allowing  professors  to  procure 
bodies  for  dissection ;  made  a  good  impromptu  speech  in  its  favor,  and 
stood  by  it  until  it  was  perfected  and  passed,  for  which  he  received 
the  thanks  of  Professor  Paine,  of  the  New  York  University,  who  had 
been  long  engaged  in  efforts  to  overcome  the  popular  prejudice  against 
the  measure. 

In  this  matter  Mr.  B.  was  opposed  by  some  of  his  warmest  personal 
friends,  and  some  of  the  ablest  men  in  the  House,  but  stood  as  firm 
as  a  rock  until  the  bill  was  carried  through;  but  in  this  as  in  many 
other  cases  where  Mr.  B.  was  opposed  to  his  friends  he  retained  their 
respect  and  confidence. 

Mr.  B.  was  re-elected  to  the  Assembly  from  his  district  again  in 
November,  1854.  At  this  election  his  principal  opponent  was  Daniel 
S.  Reid,  who  received  the  Democratic  and  Know  Nothing  vote  of  the 
district,  except  a  few  votes  given  for  Mr.  Pythagorus  Wetmore,  as  a 
Free  Soil  Maine  Law  candidate.  Mr.  Baker  received  1345,  Mr.  Reid, 
1001,  and  Mr.  Wetmore.  205. 

At  the  following  session  of  1855,  Mr.  B.  was  appointed  chairman 
of  the  judiciary  committee  and  a  member  of  a  select  committee  on  the 
governor's  message  relating  to  the  detention  of  witnesses — a  position 
given  him  on  the  ground  of  his  being  a  progressive  but  conservative 
reformer;  safe  against  hasty  and  injudicious  legislation  on  the  one 
hand,  and  ready  for  the  adoption  of  any  reform  based  upon  sound  and 
permanent  principles  on  the  other.  This  character  he  sustained  to 
the  entire  satisfaction  of  his  friends,  during  the  session. 


He  again  opposed  the  passage  of  the  Maine  Law  with  all  his  energy 
and  influence  on  the  same  grounds  as  the  year  before,  and!  on  the  fur- 
ther ground,  that  the  courts  and  juries  would  refuse  to  enforce  it; 
regulating  their  construction  of  the  law  by  the  higher  law  of  popular 
feeling. 

During  this  session  Mr.  B.  was  appointed  a  member  of  a  joint  com- 
mittee "  to  ascertain  the  modes  of  procedure  in  the  criminal  courts, 
the  office  of  the  chief  of  police,  station  houses,  penitentiaries,  alms- 
houses,  and  city  prisons  in  the  cities  of  New  York  and  Brooklyn," 
and  "  to  report  what,  if  any  further  legislation  is  necessary  for  the 
suppression  and  punishment  of  crime,  and  the  better  protection 
of  persons  charged  with  crime." 

He  drafted  the  report  of  the  committee  which  proposes  certain 
alterations  in  the  charter  and  police  system  of  New  York,  not  very 
palatable  to  his  Hon.,  Mayor  Wood,  who  is  a  zealous  advocate  of 
despotic  political  power. 

Mr.  B.  was  regarded  as  the  head  of  the  Anti-Maine  Law  party  in 
the  House;  was  a  warm  and  earnest  supporter  of  Wm.  H.  Seward 
for  U.  S.  Senator,  and  exerted  all  his  influence  for  his  election;  en- 
couraging the  timid,  confirming  the  wavering,  and  animating  the  bold 
in  favor  of  Mr.  Seward,  whom  he  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  en- 
lightened and  liberal  of  American  statesmen,  and  the  champion  above 
all  others  of  civil  and  religious  liberty. 

The  debates  on  the  Senatorial  question  elicited  and  called  out  all 
the  talent  and  power  of  the  House.  Mr.  B.  made  two  bold  and 
effective  speeches  in  which  he  attacked  the  Know  Nothing  party — then 
in  its  rising  power — laying  open  the  secret  corruptions  of  that  party 
in  such  a  vivid  and  powerful  manner,  that  many  of  his  friends  regard- 
ed his  speeches  as  the  death  knell  of  that  party.  His  speeches  were 
delivered  without  any  previous  preparation,  and  elicited  the  general 
commendation  of  all  who  heard  them ;  they  were  written  out  after 
their  delivery  and  published  in  a  pamphlet  called  "  Senatorial  De- 
bates," but  lost  much  of  their  power  and  ability  in  the  process  of 
reducing  them  to  writing. 

At  the  opening  of  that  session,  when  the  usual  resolution  inviting 
the  clergymen  to  open  the  morning  sessions  with  prayer  was  intro- 
duced, the  Know  Nothing  portion  of  the  House — being  about  80  mem- 
bers— attempted  to  exclude  the  Catholics,  but  Mr.  B.  met  the  attempt 
with  such  energy,  boldness  and  resolution,  that  he  pj-ocured  its  modi- 
fication so  as  to  allow  the  speaker  to  invite  clergymen  without  discri- 
mination. Mr.  B.  opposed  the  intolerance  of  the  Know  Nothing 
party  as  an ti- American,  bigoted  and  illiberal. 

In  November,  1856,  he  again  received  the  nomination  for  member 
from  the  Republican  party;  was  opposed  by  Mr.  L.  B.  Clark,  a  popu- 
lar and  influential  Hunker  Know  Nothing,  and  by  J.  B.  Ferguson,  a 
Democrat.  Mr.  B.  received  1478,  Mr.  Clark,  1327,  and  Mr.  Fergu- 
son, 330  votes. 

In  the  present  House  Mr.  B.  is  chairman  of  the  committee  on  pri- 
vileges and  elections,  and  chairman  of  a  select  committee  on  the 
criminal  code;  he  was  also  appointed  a  member  of  the  judiciary  com- 
mittee on  the  12th  of  March,  1857. 


10 

In  person  Mr.  B.  is  5  feet  8  inches  high,  weighs  135  Ibs.,  has  brown 
hair,  blue  eyes,  a  thin,  spare  face  with  a  serious  and  thoughtful  cast. 
In  temperament,  his  is  a  happy  mixture  of  the  nervous,  billions  and 
sanguine;  he  is  candid,  fearless,  patient  and  humble;  his  friendships 
and  resentments  are  strong  and  durable;  his  hope  and  caution  are 
large;  he  believes  in  the  Bible,  and  the  doctrine  of  future  rewards 
and  punishments  and  the  accountability  of  man ;  belongs  to  no  church ; 
has  warm  and  devoted  friends,  and  some  bitter  and  relentless  enemies 
who  are  sometimes  converted  into  friends. 

He  is  yet  a  bachelor;  loves  little  children  and  believes  in  matri- 
mony; has  no  ambition  for  political  preferment;  shrinks  from  all 
public  display  and  notoriety;  loves  independence  of  personal  charac- 
ter, and  despises  with  a  hearty  and  supreme  contempt,  the  sycophan- 
tic satellite,  who  bends  his  pliant  knee  to  power,  "that  thrift  may 
follow  fawning,"  above  all  the  despicable  characters  to  be  found  in 
the  meanest  class  of  the  human  race. 

Mr.  B.  is  regarded  a  ready  and  fluent  debater,  but  requires  opposi- 
tion and  provocation  to  display  the  powers  with  which  nature  has 
endowed  him.  His  mode  of  argument  is  direct,  simple  and  logical; 
meets  his  adversary  in  a  direct  manner,  and  despises  evasion  and 
sophistry  as  the  low  trickery  of  weak  and  dishonest  minds. 

FREDERICK  P.  BELLINGER. 

The  Hon.  F.  P.  Bellinger  is  one  of  the  "  solid  men  "  of  Herkimer 
county.  A  farmer  from  choice;  a  politician  by  accident.  He  is  a 
quiet,  modest,  stay-at-home  sort  of  a  man,  who  has  become  rich 
by  minding  his  own  business,  and  won  the  confidence  of  his  constitu- 
ents by  his  unfaltering  integrity. 

In  the  course  of  the  "  even  tenor  of  his  life,"  he  has  frequently 
been  honored  by  his  fellow-citizens,  who  have  elected  him  to  posts 
of  distinction.  Though  not  an  old  man,  he  was  in  active  service  at 
the  time  Col.  Stone  edited  his  weekly  journal  in  the  village  of  Herki- 
mer, and  was  intimately  acquainted  with  that  disiinguished  author, 
and  was  on  the  best  of  terms  with  Thurlow  Weed  when  he  worked 
at  the  case  in  Herkimer. 

Squire  Bellinger  has  been  a  prominent  Democrat  for  many  years. 
He  was,  and  for  aught  we  know,  is  now  colonel  of  the  militia. 

Col.  Bellinger  served  as  a  military  officer  at  Sacketts  Harbor  in 
1812  and  1814.  He  went  to  the  Assembly  in  1827,  again  in  1830,  and 
again  in  1849. 

One  year  ago  last  fall  he  was  nominated  for  State  Senator  in  oppo- 
sition to  the  nominee  of  the  American  party.  Mr.  Bellinger  was 
elected  by  a  very  handsome  majority  of  three  thousand. 

He  has  voted  right  every  time,  on  every  question  that  came  before 
the  Senate.  He  is  a  faithful  public  servant,  always  at  the  post  of  duty. 
He  makes  no  pretensions  to  oratory — indeed  he  never  made  a  speech 
in  his  life — but  he  can  think,  talk  and  vote. 

Col.  Bellinger  is  a  large  man,  weighing  about  two  hundred  and 
twenty  pounds ;  has  a  full,  fresh,  ruddy  face  and  blue  eyes.  He  is  about 
sixty  years  of  age.  He  represents  the  Sixteenth  Senatorial  District. 


11 

GEO.  W.  BRADFORD 

Is  a  member  of  the  Senate  and  the  author  and  advocate  of  a  bill  for  pro- 
hibiting the  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors.  He  was  born  in  1796,  in  the 
county  of  Otsego;  is  a  practicing  physician;  studied  in  Cooperstown  and 
was  admitted  to  practice  in  1819.  He  commenced  the  practice  of  his 
profession  in  the  town  of  Homer,  Cortland  county,  where  he  now  re- 
sides. He\;ast  his  first  vote  in  1818  for  De  Witt  Clinton,  is  now  a 
Republican;  was  elected  to  a  seat  in  the  Assembly  in  1852.  and  in 
1854  was  elected  to  a  chair  in  the  Senate,  and  was  re-elected  1855. 
He  represents  the  Twenty-third  Senatorial  District;  belongs  to  the 
sixth  generation  of  the  direct  lineal  descendants  of  Governor  Brad- 
ford, of  Plymouth  Rock  memory;  is  about  five  feet  eight  inches  in 
height;  has  dark  hair  touched  with  the  frost  of  years,  blue  eyes,  wears 
glasses  over  his  eyes  but  never  on  his  lips,  being  strictly  temperate; 
shaves  his  face  smooth;  is  a  plain,  quiet  man,  averse  to  noise  and 
pomp ;  is  chairman  of  the  committee  on  medical  societies,  and  on 
literature. 

ERASTUS   BROOKS 

Is  one  of  the  best  informed  men  in  the  Senate.  No  one  there  is 
better  posted  on  parliamentary  rules.  He  is  a  fluent  and  forcible  de- 
bater, a  graceful  and  vigorous  writer,  a  generous  and  sociable  man. 
He  is  the  leader  of  the  Know  Nothing  party  in  this  state,  and  was  its 
candidate  for  governor.  He  belongs  to  the  "fifth  avenoodles  "  and 
claims  a  high  social  position.  He  is  a  man  of  medium  size,  has  hair 
black  as  a  raven's  wing  and  eyes  to  match;  his  large  perceptive  fac- 
ulties give  his  forehead  a  retreating  look.  He  is  one  of  the  editors 
and  proprietors  of  the  New  York  Express.  He  is  chairman  of  the 
committee  on  cities  and  villages;  on  the  committee  on  commerce 
and  navigation,  and  on  the  select  committee  on  the  subject  of  a  Pro- 
hibitory law.  When  a  candidate  for  office  he  is  not,  one  of  the  run- 
ning Brooks  we  read  of.  Mr.  B.  represents  the  Sixth  Senatorial 
District. 

AMOS  BRIGGS. 

Mr.  Briggs  is  a  noble  looking  old  gentleman  about  sixty  years  of 
age;  has  soft  silky  grey  hair;  a  strongly  marked  face;  a  short  tuft  of 
whiskers,  a  sort  of  compromise  between  the  past  and  present  fashion. 
He  has  a  habit  of  contracting  the  muscles  of  the  face  when  reading, 
which  may  be  owing  to  a  deficiency  in  eyesight.  He  is  a  very  con- 
scientious and  honorable  man,  engaged  in  manufactures  of  some  sort. 
He  is  chairman  of  the  committee  on  manufactures,  on  the  canal 

committee,  and  on  the  poor  law  committee. 
< 

P.  B.  BABCOCK 

Represents  the  Second  District  of  Oneida  county.  He  was  a  Cass 
Democrat  until  the  nomination  of  Buchanan,  when  he,  together  with 
several  hundred  others,  united  with  the  Republican  party.  He  attends 
the  Universalist  church;  is  a  farmer,  the  owner  of  a  beautiful  estate, 
although  he  commenced  life  poor  and  unaided  by  his  friends.  He  was 


12 

0 

town  supervisor  four  years  in  succession.  He  is  forty-two  years  of 
age,  of  ordinary  stature,  has  a  red,  healthy  face,  dark  hair  and  dark 
blue  eyes.  He  is  opposed  to  "prohibition."  He  is  chairman  of  the 
committee  on  census,  and  a  member  of  the  committee  on  insurance. 
He  is  a  very  respectable  man  and  attends  faithfully  to  the  duties  of 
his  office. 

JEREMIAH  S.  BAKER 

Was  born  in  Rensselaer  county;  is  forty-three  years  of  age;  a  farmer. 
He  was  formerly  a  Whig,  is  now  a  Republican;  is  a  Unitarian;  has  been 
Supervisor  of  the  town;  is  a  temperance  man.  In  person  he  is  well  pro- 
portioned, being  above  the  common  bight;  is  of  the  sanguine  temper- 
ament, has  light  brown  hair,  auburn  whiskers,  large  light  eyes,  and  a 
long,  healthy  face,  indicating  firmness  and  unbending  integrity.  He  is 
always  at  his  post  and  looks  well  into  the  matters  brought  before  the 
House.  He  is  a  faithful,  efficient  legislator.  Is  on  the  committee  on 
engrossed  bills;  is  a  quiet,  unassuming  man,  but  has  none  the 
less  influence  on  that  account. 

NICHOLAS  BARHYDT 

Is  well  known  to  the  traveling  public  as  the  popular  and  obliging 
host  of  the  Eagle  Hotel  and  public  hall,  in  Schenectady.  He 
is  not  engaged  in  that  business  at  the  present  writing.  He  is  of 
Dutch  descent;  forty-eight  years  of  age;  of  the  nervous  temperament, 
with  a  touch  of  the  sanguine ;  has  light  hair,  greyish  blue  eyes ;  is  a 
quiet,  honest,  earnest  man;  was  formerly  a  Democrat,  now  votes 
with  the  Republican  party.  He  represents  the  city  and  county  of 
Schenectady,  and  is  on  the  excise  committee;  has  been  an  alderman  of 
the  city  he  represents,  supervisor,  &c.  He  attends  the  Dutch  Re- 
formed church,  and  maintains  a  high  social  position,  while  he  retains 
the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his  political  friends. 

A.  BELL 

Is  a  very  quiet,  gentlemanly  man — somewhat  precise-  in  his  manner 
and  particular  in  his  dress.  He  is  methodical,  has  a  place  for  every- 
thing and  everything  in  its  place;  has  a  sound  and  discriminating 
mind  and  a  character  above  suspicion.  In  person  he  is  of  medium 
stature,  is  prematurely  gray,  has  a  fair,  healthy  face,  mild  blue  eyes, 
narrow  white  whiskers,  thin  lips  and  an  amiable  expression  of  face. 
He  was  born  in  New  Hampshire,  1810 — emigrated  to  this  state  in 
1827  and  located  in  Alleghany  county.  After  serving  as  a  clerk  in  a 
mercantile  house  eight  years,  he  commenced  trade  on  his  own'account 
in  Livingston  county.  After  eight  years'  experience  as  a  merchant 
he  relinquished  that  calling  and  tried  his  hand  in  the  furnace  and  ma- 
chine business,  which,  after  four  years'  trial,  he  exchanged  for  farm- 
ing and  lumbering. 

He  is  in  comfortable  circumstances  and  commands  the  respect  of  a 
large  number  of  friends  and  acquaintances.  His  first  presidential 
ballot  was  cast  for  Andrew  Jackson,  his  last  for  John  C.  Fremont. 
He  is  a  Republican,  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  and  a  strict 


13 

temperance  man  in  theory  and  practice.  He  is  chairman  of  the  com- 
mittee of  charitable  and  religious  societies.  He  is  a,  BELL  who  has 
the  ring  of  true  metal,  though  without  a  noisy  tongue. ' 

THOMAS  P.  BISHOP 

Represents  District  No.  2  of  Madison  county.  He  was  born  in  Dutch- 
ess  county,  on  the  1st  of  January,  1800;  has  been  a  trader  in  Caze- 
novia  for  twenty  years,  but  has  now  retired  from  business.  He  was 
a  Democrat  till  '44,  when  he  became  an  Abolitionist,  voting  for  James 
G.  Birney;  in  '48  he  mounted  the  Buffalo  platform,  indulging  the 
hope  that  John  P.  Hale  would  be  the  nominee  for  President,  but  went 
with  a  good  heart  for  Martin  Van  Buren.  In  '49  he  went  back  (he 
regrets  it)  to  the  Democratic  ranks;  did  not  vote  for  Franklin  Pierce, 
but  did  vote  for  John  P.  Hale;  joined  the  Republican  party  at  its  for- 
mation, and  was  a  delegate  to  the  state  convention  in  September.  He 
is  on  the  committee  of  expenditures  of  the  House. 

He  is  a  Bishop  without  a  church,  but  liberal  in  his  theological 
views ;  is  a  married  man.  In  person  he  is  of  common  stature,  has 
brown  hair  somewhat  silvered,  smooth  features,  blue  eyes,  wears 
specs,  is  friendly,  sociable,  and  fond  of  fun;  a  man  of  firmness  and 
energy,  and  blessed  with  a  good  share  of  good  common  sense. 

HORACE  BOIES 

Was  born  in  Aurora,  Erie  county.  Is  now  29  years  of  age  (looks 
not  over  23);  commenced  the  study  of  law  at  the  age  of  21,  was  ad- 
mitted to  practice  in  all  the  courts  in  about  18  months;  commenced 
practice  at  the  time  of  commencing  study.  Has  emphatically  worked 
his  way  froiri'the  commencement,  early  learning  that  he  must  depend 
upon  his  own  exertions.  Had  but  ordinary  opportunities  in  the 
acquirement  of  education,  but  made  the  most  of  them.  Has  now  an 
extensive  practice  in  the  village  of  White  Corners,  in  the  Third 
Assembly  District  of  Erie,  where  he  resides.  Was  elected  by  some 
400  majority,  running  largely  ahead  of  his  ticket,  especially  in  his 
own  town  (140).  His  father  is  of  French  descent,  his  mother  of 
English. 

Is  five  feet  eight  inches  in  hight,  weighs  about  140:  has  complexion 
of  ordinary  cast,  dark  hair,  and  blue  eyes  that  light  up  when  en- 
gaged in  animated  or  earnest  discourse.  Has  spoken  seldom  during 
the  session,  but  when  speaking  it  is  to  the  point  and  with  an  earnest- 
ness that  secures  attention  and  carries  conviction.  Makes  friends  of 
those  who  become  acquainted  with  him.  Is  a  worker  and  untiring. 
His  prospects  for  the  future  are  bright. 

Is  a  temperance  man  from  principle.  Goes  in  for  nothing  that  can 
not  stand  upon  its  merits.  Generally  attends  Presbyterian  church. 
Is  now  a  widower;  his  wife  died  about  fifteen  months  since;  was 
married  in  early  lite ;  had  two  children  left  by  her,  the  oldest,  a  boy 
some  four  years  of  age,  being  taken  away  within  a  few  days  past. 
Is  a  member  of  the  select  committee  on  the  code,  and  at  the  head  of 
the  committee  on  aliens. 


14 
ROBERT  B.  BRADFORD. 

His  father  "Was  a  Virginia  farmer,  and  he  himself  was  born  in  Cul- 
pepper  county,  Virginia;  is  now  24  years  of  age.  He  came  to  New 
York  eighteen  months  ago,  was  appointed  surgeon  to  the  police  de- 
partment by  Fernando  Wood,  and  subsequently  nominated  by  the 
Wood  party  for  the  Legislature.  The  first  vote  he  ever  gave  was  for 
Mr.  Buchanan.  His  relatives  in  Virginia  were  all  Henry  Clay  Whigs, 
and  many  of  them  leading  members  of  that  party.  He  belongs  to  one 
of  the  more  aristocratic  families  in  the  "  old  dominion." 

Dr.  Bradford  is  a  tall,  prepossessing  young  man,  of  the  sanguine 
nervous  temperament;  has  brown  hair,  blue  eyes,  a  round,  pleasant 
face,  wears  a  moustache,  has  a  good  voice,  and  the  reputation  of 
being  a  whole-souled,  generous  man,  who  improves  on  acquaintance. 
He  has  made  one  or  two  good  speeches  in  the  House.  He  is  on  the 
committee  of  medical  societies  and  colleges. 

ERASMUS  D.  BROOKS 

Is  from  the  Third  District  of  St.  Lawrence.  He  was  formerly  a  Whig, 
is  now  a  Republican.  Was  brought  up  in  the  mercantile  business,  but 
has  now  retired  from  active  business. 

He  is  39  years  of  age,  tall  and  well  proportioned,  has  a  fine,  fresh 
countenance,  large  blue  eyes,  sandy  hair,  is  prematurely  bald.  A  man 
of  excellent  principles  and  good  sense. 

Mr.  Brooks  is  a  native  of  Shoreham,  Addison  county.  Vermont. 
When  quite  young  he  removed  to  St.  Lawrence  county,  New  York. 
At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  entered  Middlebury  College,  Vermont ;  when 
twenty-one  he  commenced  mercantile  pursuits.  In  1841  he  married 
the  eldest  daughter  of  the  Hon.  Jonah  Sanford.  Although  not  a 
member  of  any  Christian  church  he  is  friendly  to  all  denominations 
of  evangelical  Christians.  He  is  on  the  committee  of  trade  and  ma- 
nufactures ;  also  on  the  committee  of  erection  and  division  of  towns 
and  counties. 

HEZEKTAH  BALDWIN 

Is  the  representative  of  the  Second  District  of  Greene  county,  resides 
in  the  town  of  Durham,  is  a  farmer,  thirty-eight  years  of  age,  of 
common  stature,  has  brown  hair,  blue  eyes  and  a  ruddy  healthy  face; 
smooth  features;  wears  a  goatee.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republican,  but 
was  formerly  a  Whig ;  attends  the  Presbyterian  church.  He  is  on  the 
committee  on  grievances  and  does  not  complain  on  that  account.  His 
grand-father  on  his  mother's  side  was  an  officer  in  the  revolutionary 
war;  his  grand-father  on  his  father's  side  was  also  a  revolutionary 
soldier. 

HENRY  W.  BECKWITH. 

This  tall  "son  of  York"  represents  with  distinguished  zeal  and 
ability  the  county  of  Washington,  one  of  the  loveliest  gardens  of  the 
state.  When  applied  to  for  information  for  the  purposes  of  this 
sketch,  Mr.  Beckwith.  with  a  rare  and  becoming  modesty,  politely  but 
firmly  objected,  remarking  that  it  was  no  sort  of  consequence  how  old 
he  was  or  where  he  was  born.  Nevertheless  we  have  contrived  to 


15 

pick  up  sufficient  materials  to  "take  his  life  ",  and  will  add  our  own 
views  of  his  position,  personnel,  and  peculiar  characteristics.  He  is 
about  38  years  of  age,  graduated  at  Union  College,  Schenectady,  in 
1839,  and  went  immediately  to  the  city  of  New  York,  where  he  com- 
menced the  practice  of  the  law  as  one  of  the  firm  of  Bradley,  Mills 
&  Beckwith.  He  gained  no  inconsiderable  reputation  at  the  bar,  and 
accumulated  quite  a  snug  little  fortune  by  his  profession,  which  he  re- 
linquished four  years  ago,  when  he  went  to  North  Granville,  Wash- 
ington county,  and  settled  down  very  quietly  upon  a  farm,  the  "old 
homestead  "  where  he  was  born.  In  this  secluded  spot,  afar  from  the 
arena  of  forensic  and  political  strife,  he  followed  the  independent  and 
honorable  vocation  of  a  farmer,  until  the  tocsin  of  freedom  sounded 
and  the  republican  party,  like  Minerva  from  the  brain  of  Jove,  sprung 
at  once  into  full  maturity  and  vigor.  Then,  like  another  Cincinnatus, 
he  left  the  plough  at  the  call  of  his  country,  and  came  to  serve  her  in 
its  councils.  During  the  early  part  of  the  session  he  was  remarkably 
quiet  and  unassuming  for  a  man  of  his  acknowledged  ability,  and  his 
former  friends,  who  knew  his  power,  thought  he  was  affected  with 
chronic  indolence.  He  was  always  in  his  seat  and  always  voted  right. 
The  "  lobby  "  very  soon  learn  to  know  their  men  and  they  quickly 
gave  him  up  as  wholly  impracticable,  one  who  could  not  be  induced 
by  any  considerations  of  policy  or  personal  friendship  to  favor  the 
passage  of  a  bill  that  was  not  perfectly  just  and  proper.  His  opposi- 
tion to  all  schemes  for  plundering  the  state  gained  him  an  enviable 
distinction  for  integrity,  and  the  harpies  who  flock  like  carrion  around 
the  strong  box  of  the  treasury,  found  in  him  a  second  "Flagg"  stone 
over  which  they  could  never  step.  No  "sop  to  Cerberus"  could  gain 
his  vote  or  his  acquiescence  in  the  many  iniquitous  schemes  before 
the  Legislature,  and  we  once  heard  him  severely  anathematized  by 
these  robbers  as  "a  man  opposed  td  all  liberal  legislation  " — i.  e.  to 
the  various  projects  for  legislative  plunder.  This  marked  trait  in  his 
character  gave  him  position  at  once,  and  when  the  sharp  contest  on 
the  Quarantine  removal  had  engaged  the  attention  of  the  Assembly 
for  a  long  time,  he  perfectly  electrified  the  House  by  a  speech  of  ir- 
resistible logic  and  stirring  eloquence.  His  points  were  as  clear, 
forcible  and  convincing,  as  his  manner  was  earnest  and  impassioned, 
and  that  he  largely  influenced  the  result  is  evidenced  by  the  fact  that 
there  were  only  two  negative  votes  to  the  bill.  He  immediately  took 
the  front  rank  as  an  orator,  with  Judge  Hogeboom  and  Speaker  Little- 
john,  and  whenever  he  subsequently  rose  to  address  the  House,  he  al- 
ways commanded  the  attention,  respect  and  confidence  of  the  mem- 
bers. He  has  been  closely  identified  with  the  principal  leading 
measures  before  the  Legislature.  It  is  the  concurrent  opinion  of  those 
competent  to  judge  that  political  honors  are  in  store  for  him,  much 
higher  than  he  has  yet  attained.  He  is  of  a  most  amiable  disposition 
and  is  regarded  as  an  extremely  "  clever  fellow  "  by  all  who  know 
him.  There  is  nothing  of  the  "old  fogy"  about  him.  He  is  active, 
earnest  and  energetic.  He  is  thoroughly  democratic  in  his  views  and 
feelings  and  does  not  affiliate  or  sympathize  with  anything  like  aristoc- 
racy. His  personal  appearance  is  tall  and  commanding;  he  stands 


16 

something  over  six  feet,  is  well  proportioned,  and  altogether  as  noble 
a  specimen  of  "Young  America  "  as  one  would  wish  to  meet.  His 
constituents  may  well  felicitate  themselves  upon  having  so  faithful, 
efficient  and  popular  a  representative. 

A.  BERRY 

Is  from  the  First  District  in  Chenango  county ;  he  resides  in  the  town 
of  Norwich,  where  he  trades  in  wool,  although  it  is  an  article  which 
he  does  not  pull  over  the  eyes  of  his  constituents.  He  is  in  fact  a 
retired  merchant ;  has  political  antecedents,  were  Whig,  but  is  now 
an  ardent  Republican.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church,  a 
man  of  family  and  occupies  a  high  position  in  all  the  relations  of  life. 
He  is  a  native  of  Connecticut,  came  to  this  state  in  his  youth  and 
commenced  the  world  bare-handed,  but  by  diligence  and  enterprise  he 
has  acquired  a  handsome  competency. 

Mr.  Berry  is  fifty-one  years  of  age,  of  ordinary  stature,  has  an  ami- 
able countenance,  mild  blue  eyes,  soft  dark  hair,  turning  gray:  and 
short  whiskers.  He  is  a  man  of  honest  purpose  and  untiring  industry. 
As  a  member  of  the  committee  of  sixteen  he  is  very  efficient  and  use- 
ful. He  is  on  the  committee  of  the  death  penalty. 

S.  C.  CUYLER. 

S.  C.  Cuyler  was  born  in  Aurora,  Cayuga  county;  is  a  son  of  Glen 
Cuyler,  Esq.,  a  lawyer  who  settled  th'ere  at  an  early  day.  He  is  a 
farmer;  resides  in  Pultneyville,  Wayne  county,  where  he  removed 
some  twenty  years  since.  He  represents  the  counties  of  Wayne  and 
Cayuga,  which  compose  the  Twenty-fourth  Senatorial  District;  was 
elected  by  1,500  majority! 

In  the  commencement  of  the  anti-slavery  enterprise  some  fifteen 
or  twenty  years  since,  he  became  interested  in  that  cause;  he  was 
among  the  number  who  aided  in  forming  the  Liberty  party,  which  was 
inaugurated  in  1840,  with  the  lamented  Myron  Holly  at  its  head.  He 
has  devoted  himself  for  many  years  to  the  work  of  arousing  public 
attention  to  the  enormities  of  slavery.  He  continued  with  that  party 
till  1848,  and  then  went,  with  many  others,  into  the  Free  Soil  move- 
ment; continued  with  them  one  year,  when  the  party  sold  themselves 
to  the  Hunkers — Mr.  C.  would  not  ratify  the  bargain.  He  then  acted 
with  some  anti-slavery  friends,  in  an  independent  position  till  the 
Republican  party  was  formed  two  years  since.  He  is  a  temperance 
man,  honest  and  faithful — is  a  real  clever  fellow,  and  to  his  credit  be 
it  spoken,  never  tasted  intoxicating  liquor  in  his  life. 

Mr.  Cuyler-wears  a  pleasant  face;  has  sparkling  blue  eyes,  which 
kindle  in  debate;  he  has  a  broad,  high  forehead,  a  pale  countenance, 
and  brown  hair ;  is  rather  below  the  common  size ;  is  very  active ; 
speaks  fluently,  energetically  and  boldly  for  the  right.  He  is  a  man  of 
warm  impulses ;  has  a  generous  nature,  and  while  he  wins  friends  every 
day  he  never  sacrifices  one.  He  is  prompt  and  bold  and  has  the  con- 
fidence of  his  party  and  the  esteem  of  all  his  fellow  legislators.  He  is 
chairman  of  the  committee  on  salt;  also  a  member  of  the  Kansas  com- 


17 

mittee,  state  prison  committee,  and  of  the  committee  on  charitable 
and  religious  societies. 

ZENAS   CLARK, 

For  some  years  past  an  able  Democratic  Senator  from  St.  Lawrence, 
now  a  Republican,  lives  at  Pottsdam;  did  not  want  to  run  the  last 
time  he  was  nominated  in  consequence  of  ill  health.  He  was  elected 
in  the  face  of  an  unscrupulous  opposition.  He  is  a  true  and  faithful 
man;  tall  and  erect,  gray-haired,  and  about  sixty-five  years  of  age. 
He  recently  resigned  in  consequence  of  his  rapidly  failing  health.  His 
seat  is  now  occupied  by  Bloomfield  Usher,  a  banker  from  Pottsdam  A 

ELIAS  W.  CADY 

Comes  from  the  Second  District  of  Tompkins  county;  was  formerly  a 
Whig,  is  now  numbered  with  the  Republicans,  and  works  well  in  the 
ranks.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Legislature  in  1850;  is  a  farmer, 
sixty-four  years  of  age;  a  tall  man,  with  thin  face  and  gray  hair;  be- 
longs to  the  Presbyterian  church;  is  not  a  floor-member,  but  a  con- 
stant worker  for  the  welfare  of  his  constituents.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  committee  on  salt.  We  judge  he  is  a  man  of  sound,  common 
sense  (a  rare  commodity  now-a-days),  and  a  man  of  unfaltering  hon- 
esty of  purpose. 

C.  N.  CAMPBELL, 

Representative  from  the  Third  District  of  Dutchess  county,  was  born 
in  the  year  1825.  At  an  early  age  an  insatiable  thirst  for  knowledge 
insinuated  itself  into  his  mind,  and,  although  surrounded  by  adverse 
circumstances,  yet  by  self-sacrifice,  untiring  effort,  and  assiduous  ap- 
plication, he  obtained  a  preparatory  course  of  education,  but  for 
divers  reasons  was  compelled  to  abandon  the  idea  of  entering  college. 
He  commenced  the  study  of  medicine,  and  graduated  at  the  New  York 
University  in  1847,  and  located  soon  after  in  the  town  of  Stanford, 
where  he  now  resides,  practicing  his  profession,  in  which  he  has  been 
eminently  successful.  His  political  principles  are  Democratic,  of 
which  party  he  has  ever  been  a  consistent  adherent. 

Magnanimity  of  soul,  integrity  of  purpose  and  an  exemplary  deport- 
ment, are  characteristics  happily  blended  in  him,  which,  together  with 
sound,  discriminating  judgment,  urbanity  of  manner,  a  disposition  and 
temperament  at  once  confiding  and  enthusiastic,  and  noble  and  gener- 
ous impulses,  have  surrounded  him  with  a  host  of  friends;  these  ele- 
ments of  popularity  have  secured  to  him  the  unaba'ed  confidence  of 
an  intelligent  constituency,  and  indeed  of  all  who  possess  his  acquaint- 
ance. His  present  social  and  political  position  is  attributable  to  his 
own  uncompromising  and  praiseworthy  individual  exertions.  He  is  a 
widower. 

He  is  rather  below  the  medium  stature;  has  dark  hair  touched  with 
silver,  a  pale  face,  blue  eyes,  a  fine  forehead;  wears  a  dark  goatee; 
has  a  pleasant  countenance,  is  good  natured,  and  his  ready  laugh  is 
very  infectious.  He  is  on  the  committee  of  colleges,  academies  and 
common  schools;  also  the  committee  on  medical  colleges  and  medical 
societies. 

2 


18 
ALBERT  CARPENTER 

Was  born  in  the  city  of  New  York — he  is  now  forty-six  years  of  age — 
follows  farming,  and  is  proud  of  the  fact  that  he  has  six  boys,  old  and 
smart  and  industrious  enough  to  drive  that  number  of  plows.  We 
are  pleased  to  find  a  man  once  in  a  while  who  has  the  good  sense  to 
educate  his  sons  in  the  science  of  farming,  instead  of  forcing  them  into 
the  overcrowded  professions.  Mr.  C.  was  formerly  a  Whig,  but  he  is 
now  an  American:  he  is  friendly  to  temperance,  but 'opposed  to  the 
provisions  of  the  Maine  law.  He  attends  the  Methodist  church.  In 
person  he  is  of  ordinary  stature;  has  brown  hair,  mild  blue  eyes,  a 
AunH,  florid  face;  is  pleasant,  sociable,  free-hearted  and  energetic, 
and  blessed  with  those  social  attributes  which  can  not  fail  to  win 
friends.  Mr.  C.  is  on  the  committeee  on  state  charitable  institutions. 

THOMAS  CHARLOCK 

Was  born  in  the  town  of  Fishkill,  N.  Y.,  in  1810;  learned  the  trade 
of  coppersmith  and  plumber  in  the  city  of  New  York,  where  he  now 
resides  and  carries  on  the  plumbing  business.  He  is  now,  and  always 
has  been,  a  Democrat,  opposed  to  prohibition.  He  attends  the  Bap- 
tist church;  has  been  a  widower  for  nearly  twenty  years;  speaks  in 
public  very  seldom;  is  now  serving  his  second  term,  being  first  elect- 
ed in  1848.  He  is  about  five  feet  nine  inches  in  height,  has  dark 
hair  and  dark  eyes,  a  Jewish  nose,  and  wears  a  moustache,  imperial 
and  goatee.  He  is  a  sociable,  pleasant  fellow,  and  we  judge  he  has  a 
liberal  heart  and  a  whole  soul. 

Mr.  Charlock  represents  the  Eighth  Assembly  District,  Tenth 
Ward.  He  is  on  the  committee  of  trade  and  manufactures. 

ELISHA    CLAPP 

Is  a  bachelor,  about  forty-six  years  of  age;  has  a  fresh,  healthy  face, 
hair  prematurely  gray,  eyes  blue;  he  is  short,  stout  and  vigorous. 
He  was  formerly  a  Whig,  is  now  a  Republican;  has  been  sheriff  of 
the  county,  and  is  very  much  esteemed  by  all  who  know  him.  He  is 
a  quiet,  even-tempered  man — not  a  speaker,  but  quite  a  thinker.  He 
came  within  seventeen  votes  of  being  elected  last  year. 

Mr.  Clapp  is  a  native  of  Massachusetts;  is  in  "  middling  "  circum- 
stnnces;  attends  the  Universalist  church;  is  friendly  to  the  temper- 
ance law.  Mr.  C.  is  a  member  of  the  committee  on  public  printing. 
He  is  prompt  as  daylight,  and  true  to  his  party  as  the  dial  to  the 
sun. 

LUCIAN  CLARK 

Was  born  in  the  town  of  Denmark,  Lewis  county.  His  father  was  a 
down-east  yankeee — and  the  subject  of  this  brief  sketch  has  the  look 
and  gait  of  a  genuine  down-easter.  Mr.  C.  lived  with  his  father  until 
he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age,  working  on  the  farm  during  the 
spring  and  summer  seasons  and  attending  school  during  the  winter 
months.  When  he  attained  his  majority  he  commenced  teaching 
school,  and  continued  to  do  so  for  ten  successive  winters.  When 
thirty-one  years  of  age  he  married  and  moved  to  the  farm  on  which 


19 

he  now  resides.  He  was  superintendent  of  schools,  supervisor  of  the 
town,  count)-  clerk,  &c. ;  was  a  Free  Soil  Whig  until  1855,  when  he 
united  with  the  Republicans. 

Mr.  C,  is  forty-nine  years  of  age;  tall,  thin  (but  not  a  lean  and 
hungry  Cassius),  and  straight;  has  a  spare  face,  expressive  blue  eyes, 
and  brown  hair.  He  is  on  the  committee  on  public  printing.  He  is 
a  modest  man,  seldom  rises  to  say  a  syllable  in  the  House,  but  he 
votes  understandingly  and  eloquently. 

WILLIAM  H.  CROWE 

Is  not  a  Black  Republican,  notwithstanding  the  ominous  color  of  his 
name — but  a  sterling  Democrat  of  the  old  school.  He  was  born  in 
the  town  of  Summit  (an  eagle  could  not  have  chosen  a  loftier  name), 
in  the  county  of  Schoharie,  in  the  year  1820.  He  was  brought  up 
on  a  farm,  and  is  one  of  the  thriftiest  tillers  of  the  soil  in  the  country. 
He  is  an  energetic  business  man — does  not  waste  the  time  of  the 
House  in  making  gaseous  speeches  or  liquid  explanations  and  amend* 
ments,  but  in  solid  votes  and  strict  attention  to  his  duties  as  a  legis- 
lator. He  is  on  the  committee  of  Indian  affairs — indeed,  he  is  tall 
and  straight  as  an  Indian — being  nearly  six  feet  high;  has  dark  blue 
eyes,  a  thin,  pleasant  countenance,  and  dark  whiskers;  his  face  indi- 
cates rugged  and  rustic  health.  He  is  a  married  man,  a  justice  of 
the  peace,  and  well  to  do  in  the  world. 

GEORGE  B.  COX 

Was  a  Henry  Clay  Whig  up  to  the  time  of  the  inauguration  of  the 
Republican  party,  when  he  joined  the  B.  R.'s  for  life,  or  during  the 
war.  Though  a  small  man  he  is  full  of  fight  and  does  not  hesitate  to 
pitch  into  the  giants  that  cross  his  path.  He  was  born  in  the  town 
of  Wallkill  (a  warlike  name)  in  the  county  of  Orange,  where  he  now 
resides  and  practices  the  profession  of  the  law.  He  is  a  temperance 
man;  attends  the  new-school  Presbyterian  church;  is  thirty-five  years 
of  age;  of  the  nervous,  billious  temperament;  well  built;  of  small  sta- 
ture; has  dark  hair;  wears  glasses;  dresses  in  good  taste;  speaks 
frequently  with  considerable  unction,  sometimes  with  power  and  elo- 
quence. Rumor  says  he  is  a  plucky  fellow,  but  we  have  not  yet 
heard  of  his  calling  for  pistols  for  two  and  toast,  and  tea  for  only  one. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  judiciary  committee, 

GEORGE  DE  WITT  CLINTON 

Is  from  the  county  of  Erie ;  is  not  a  blood  relative  of  the  illustrious  Clin- 
tons whose  names  are  embroidered  into  the  history  of  the  nation;  he 
is  of  Irish  extraction.  He  was  formerly  a  clerk,  is  now  the  proprie- 
tor of  a  mill,  and  manufactures  large  quantities  of  flour  at  Black 
Rock;  has  the  reputation  of  being  wealthy.  He  is  about  thirty  five 
years  of  age,  of  good  form;  has  auburn  hair  and  whiskers,  mild  eyes, 
a  Roman  nose,  lips  finely  cut,  an  amiable  expression  of  face,  and  a 
musical  voice  (which  is  heard  frequently  in  the  House).  The 
ladies  pronounce  him  handsome.  His  approbativeness  is  so  large  he 


20 

is  inclined  to  enter  into  explanations  and  apologies  for  his  votes,  at 
the  cost  of  his  reputation  for  decision  of  character.  He  has  been  in 
the  Legislature  before,  is  well  posted  on  parliamentary  usages,  and 
looks  keenly  after  the  welfare  of  his  constituents.  He  is  an  amia- 
ble, gentlemanly  person,  and,  we  would  say  in  an  under  tone,  unmar- 
ried. He  is  on  the  canal  committee  and  the  committee  on  engrossed 
bills. 

RUFUS  CROWLEY 

Represents  the  Second  Assembly  District  in  Cattaraugus  county. 
Was  born  in  Rutland  county,  Vermont,  in  1800,  where  he  resided 
until  1841,  having  held  the  office  in  his  native  town  of  captain  in  the 
Vermont  militia,  constable  and  collector,  selectman,  overseer  of  the 
poor,  and  justice  of  the  peace,  for  a  number  of  years.  In  1836  he 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  Vermont  Legislature  and  re-elected  in 
1837.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Legislature  of  this  state,  from  Cat- 
taraugus county,  in  1847,  the  long  session,  being  the  first  session 
after  the  adoption  of  the  new  Constitution.  Has  not  been  a  candi- 
date since,  until  the  last  election,  at  which  he  was  opposed  by  the 
Democrats  and  Americans,  but  was  triumphantly  elected  to  the  pre- 
sent House  by  over  eleven  hundred  majority  over  both  parties  com- 
bined. In  1843  he  was  elected  a  justice  of  the  peace  in  the  county 
he  now  represents,  which  office  he  now  holds.  Mr.  Crowley  was  for- 
merly a  Whig,  but  when  the  great  Whig  party  split  on  the  question 
of  slavery,  he  was  one  of  the  first  in  his  county  who  met  in  county 
convention  to  organize  the  Republican  party,  and  was  president  of 
said  convention. 

Mr.  Crowley  has  been  in  the  mercantile  business  the  most  of  his 
life;  is  now  in  easy  circumstances.  Lobby  influence  can  not  and 
dare  not  approach  him.  Mr.  Crowley  is  five  feet  ten  inches  in  hight, 
has  blue  eyes  and  gray  hair. 

JAMES  T.  CAMERON 

Is  a  full-blooded  Scotchman.  His  parents  came  from  the  land  of  song 
and  story  nearly  half  a  century  ago,  but  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  born  in  Steuben  county,  in  the  town  of  Hornellsville.  in  the 
year  1819,  consequently  he  is  38  years  of  age;  followed  farming 
until  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  ag'e.  Then  he  was  elected  consta- 
ble and  chosen  deputy  sheriff  two  years ;  then  he  entered  a  law  office 
and  read  law  with  J.  K.  Hale,  now  in  the  Senate  and  William  Hawley 
an  ex- Senator;  after  two  years  study  he  went  to  Alfred  Academy, 
where  he  remained  two  years  during  which  time  he  was  admitted  to 
the  bar.  Left  his  Alma  Mater,  went  south  with  the  intention  of  lo- 
cating there,  but  changed  his  mind  and  pitched  his  tent  in  the  city  of 
New  York,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  transportation  business  four 
years,  at  the  close  of  which  time,  owing  to  illness,  he  moved  to  the 
town  of  Friendship,  Alleghany  county,  where  he  now  lives,  and  per- 
forms the  duties  of  agent  for  the  New  York  and  Erie  Railroad  Com- 
pany. In  the  year  1849  he  peformed  the  duties  of  sheriff  in  the 
county  of  Steuben,  where  he  operated  among  the  anti -renters.  At 
one  time  a  company  of  anti-renters  threatened  his  life ;  he  ventured 


21 

into  the  yard  and  forced  his  way  through  the  crowd  in  the  face  of 
threats;  is  a  democratic  Republican;  calls  himself  a  Democrat.  Is 
a  married  man.  In  person  he  is  a  hale,  hearty,  heavy,  stout  man, 
weighing  nearly  two  hundred  pounds,  has  a  broad  chest  with  a  brave 
heart  in  it,  a  large  head,  broad  high  forehead,  blue  eyes,  a  full  face, 
smoothly  shaved.  His  grandfather  was  agent  of  the  Pultney  estate 
at  Bath,  a  member  of  the  Assembly  about  thirty  years  ago  and  died 
in  Albany  during  the  session  of  the  Legislature. 

JOHN  P.  DARLING 

Is  the  favorite  of  the  Republicans  of  the  Thirty-second  Senatorial 
District,  was  formerly  the  darling  of  the  Whigs,  and  for  a  brief  pe- 
riod the  pet  of  the  Americans;  punning  aside,  Mr.  D.  is  a  very  res- 
pectable gentleman,  sustaining  an  honorable  position  in  all  the 
relations  of  life.  He  represents  the  counties  of  Cattaraugus  and 
Chatauque  in  the  Senate;  is  chairman  of  the  committee  on  Indian  affairs 
and  a  member  of  the  committee  on  internal  affairs  of  towns  and 
counties.  He  is  a  tall,  fine  looking  man,  in  the  meridian  of  life,  has 
dark  hair  and  whiskers,  a  thin,  sallow  countenance,  sharp  black  eyes, 
beaming  with  intelligence.  He  is  a  gentleman  who  commands  the 
respect  and  esteem  of  all  who  know  him. 

WARREN  DIMMICK 

Is  from  Delaware  county.  He  is  a  Democrat;  follows  farming  and 
lumbering  for  a  livelihood;  is  a  man  of  fair  abilities,  a  politician 
whose  forte  is  shrewd  management.  He  has  held  town  offices  and 
other  places  of  trust,  with  honor  to  himself  and  credit  to  those  who 
gave  him  their  confidence.  He  is  not  friendly  to  all  the  provisions  of 
the  Maine  Law;  has  the  reputation  of  being  "  a  good  fellow,"  is  so- 
ciable, pleasant  and  get-at-able;  is  a  married  man  and  well  to-do  in 
the  world.  In  person  he  is  large  and  solid,  with  a  pleasant  face,  and 
hair  somewhat  gray.  This  is  his  first  appearance  as  a  legislator. 

Mr.  Dimmick  is  a  practicing  lawyer;  for  many  years  he  has  been  a 
justice  of  the  peace;  has  been  supervisor  of  the  town  three  terms, 
indeed  he  has  held  every  office  of  any  importance  in  the  town  in 
which  he  lives.  Mr.  D.  is  the  son  of  Colonel  Dimmick  now  living  at 
Arkville,. Delaware  county.  His  grandfather,  Shtibel  Dimmick,  was 
a  Revolutionary  soldier.  Mr.  D.  is  on  the  agricultural  committee. 

FRANKLIN  DUDLEY. 

Represents  the  Second  Assembly  District  of  Dutchess  county;  is  a  na- 
tive of  the  county  of  Berkshire,  Massachusetts.  Early  in  life,  relying 
on  his  own  resources,  he  left  his  parental  home,  and  has,  by  a  life  of 
honorable  industry  and  attention  to  business,  secured  a  competency, 
and  no  man  in  the  community  in  which  he  resides  stands  higher,  and 
all  with  whom  he  has  had  business  relations  entertain  for  him  the 
highest  regard.  Educated  in  the  Jeffersonian  Democracy,  he  has 
maintained  it  unflinchingly,  and  illustrated  it  in  all  his  politi- 
cal and  social  action.  Whenever  the  issue  has  been  presented  he  has 


22 

always  supported  the  cause  of  human  freedom  and  the  inalienable 
rights  of  man.  He  has  held  several  posts  of  honor  and  public  trust, 
one  of  which  (post  master  for  Pleasant  Valley),  he  lost  in  conse- 
quence of  refusing  to  obey  the  dictation  of  the  slave  power.  "With 
the  same  characteristic  determination  he  has  ever,  when  a  candidate 
for  office,  refused  to  use  rum  arid  money  to  bribe  the  electors  and  to 
carry  an  election,  preferring  defeat  to  carrying  an  election  by  corrupt 
means.  He  knew  nothing  of  his  nomination  until  a  few  minutes  be- 
fore he  was  nominated;  he  has  always  shrunk  from  office. 

In  person  Mr.  Dudley  presents  a  fine  specimen  of  our  species;  in 
manners,  dignified  and  agreeable;  in  temper,  calm,  firm  and  concili- 
ating. He  is  a  large  man,  with  a  full  face,  gray  hair,  blue  eyes;  he 
is  the  oldest  man  in  the  House.  Mr.  Dudley  is  now  in  the  67th  year 
of  age,  but  his  friends  regret  that  his  health  is  such  that  he  can  not 
give  that  attention  to  the  business  of  the  House  that  his  own  sense  of 
duty  would  dictate,  but  he  is  prompt  and  never  afraid  to  perform  his 
duty.  He  is  on  the  committee  of  expenditures  of  the  House  and  the 
committee  of  grievances.  He  has  been  engaged  in  mercantile  pur- 
suits, but  now  leads  a  retired  life.  He  attends  the  Presbyterian 
church.  This  fine  old  American  gentleman  may  be  seen  any  day 
during  the  session  of  the  Legislature  with  a  white  pocket-handker- 
chief on  his  head — a  flag  of  truce  he  displays  daily. 

M.  O.  DAVIES 

Has  retired  from  business.  He  is  sixty  years  of  age,  although  he 
does  not  look  to  be  more  than  fifty.  He  learned  the  shoemaker's 
trade  in  his  youth,  afterwards  became  a  harness-maker,  then  a  farmer, 
then  a  merchant,  and  now  he  lives  upon  his  "income." 

His  residence  is  in  Fonda,  Montgomery  county,  and  he  represents 
the  First  District  of  that  county.  He  is  a  temperance  man. 
Is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church.  A  Republican,  formerly  a 
Whig. 

In  person  he  is  of  ordinary  height  and  size,  has  dark  hair  and  eyes, 
a  long,  pale  face,  is  quick  and  nervous,  polite  and  pleasant,  a  man  of 
fair  abilities  and  good  social  qualities. 

He  is  on  the  committee  of  state  charitable  institutions. 
f. 

ARNELL  F.  DICKINSON 

Is  chairman  of  the  committee  on  agriculture,  and  takes  a  deep  in- 
terest in  all  matters  relating  to  agriculture  and  education.  He  resides 
in  the  rural  part  of  Westchester  county,  is  a  farmer  and  was  born  on 
the  estate  he  now  owns  and  occupies.  He  was  a  Whig,  but  is  now  a 
Republican. 

He  is  not  a  member  nor  steady  attendant  of  any  particular  church. 
Residing  in  a  rural  community  in  which  all  denominations  are  about 
equally  represented,  his  inclinations  lean  strongly  to  charitableness  of 
opinion,  while  he  deprec'-tes  most  sincerely  that  disposition  to  jealousy, 
intolerance  and  unfriendliness  too  prevalent  among  religious  denomina- 
tions. He  has  illed  various  stations  of  public  trust  in  his  native  town 


23 

and  county,  and  now  for  the  first  time  makes  his  appearance  in  the 
Legislature. 

He  is  thirty-eight  years  of  age,  but  looks  much  older,  because  he 
is  premature!}'  gray;  has  a  full,  ruddy  face,  and  seems  to  enjoy  robust 
and  vigorous  health.  He  is  a  stout  man  of  full  habit.  It  is  a  feather 
in  his  cap  that  he  never  drank  a  glass  of  intoxicating  liquor  in  his 
life,  nor  used  tobacco  in  any  form.  He  seems  to  be  a  man  of  con- 
siderable energy,  and  has  a  good  mind  which  has  been  improved  by 
general  reading. 

JOHN  D.  DIXON 

Is  a  name  well  known  on  our  legislative  records,  he  having  been  in 
the  Assembly  three  years  in  succession  representing  the  Fourth  Dis- 
trict (fifth  ward)  of  the  city  of  New  York.  Mr.  Dixon  has  not  only 
represented  the  same  district  each  time,  but  the  same  democratic  prin- 
ciples also.  He  is  a  master  mechanic  (a  sash-maker)  and  a  thorough  busi- 
ness man.  He  was  born  in  the  ward  he  represents ;  thus  contradicting 
the  sentiment  that  a  man  has  no  honor  in  his  own  country  among  his 
own  kindred;  attends  the  Methodist  church;  is  a  married  man.  has 
been  connected  with  the  fire  department.  Mr.  Dixon  is  a  tall,  finely 
forme^  man,  with  dark  hair,  somewhat  bald,  has  large  magnetic  eyes, 
a  full,  fresh,  jovial  face,  the  index  to  a  generous  nature  which  is  one 
of  his  striking  characteristics.  He  iff  on  the  committee  of  banks,  in- 
ternal affairs  of  towns  and  counties,  and  the  sub-committee  of  sixteen. 
Mr.  Dixon  seldom  speaks,  but  votes  always — according  to  the  instruc- 
tions he  received  from  his  constituents. 

JAMES  R.  DICKSON. 

The  ancient  Saxons  were  in  the  habit  of  giving  but  one  name  to 
their  children,  hence  when  Robert,  or  Richard,  or  William,  or  Jack, 
or  Dick  had  a  son,  he  would  be  distinguished  by  the  cognomen  of 
Richardson,  the  son  of  Richard;  Williamson,  the  son  of  William; 
Jackson,  the  son  of  Jack;  Dickson,  the  son  of  Dick;  in  this  way  we 
see  in  one  direction  the  origin  of  Saxon  names.  Mr.  Dickson  is  a 
native  of  Utica,  Oneida  county,  is  fifty-one  years  of  age,  of  common 
size  and  stature,  has  gray  hair,  blue  eyes,  an  earnest  face,  a  sound 
head  and  a  kind  heart ;  is  a  miller  by  occupation,  attends  the  Associate 
Reform  church;  is  a  member  of  the  committee  on  grievances,  and  re- 
presents the  First  District  in  Orange  county.  His  parents  belong 
to  Orange  county,  and  he,  after  an  absence  of  seventeen  years  in 
South  Carolina,  married  an  Orange  county  lady  and  located  in  the 
District  he  now  represents.  His  father  came  from  Ireland  in  1798. 

JOHN  EVERS 

Represents  the  Third  or  City  District  of  Albany ;  is  an  Irishman, 
and  owes  his  election  to  his  popularity  among  his  countrymen.  He 
is  an  officer  in  the  Emmet  Guards;  is  engaged  in  the  liquor  trade;  a 
Catholic  in  religion;  a  fine  looking  man,  about  forty  years  of  age. 
Soon  after  his  election  he  met  with  an  accident  which  resulted  in  a 
broken  leg,  and  rendered  it  difficult  for  him  to  attend  to  his  legisla- 
tive duties.  He  is  seldom  seen  in  the  House.  He  is  on  the  commit- 
tee of  elections  and  privileges. 


24 
JOHN  W.  FERDON. 

Senator  Ferdon  is  probably  the  youngest  member  of  the  Senate, 
but  being  prematurely  bald,  he  appears  older  than  he  really  is.  He 
is  of  the  nervous  temperament;  has  pale  features;  a  high  forehead, 
which  shines  as  though  fresh  from  some  classic  varnish ;  a  nose  that 
would  have  tempted  Napoleon  the  great,  to  make  a  marshall  of  him. 
He  has  blue  eyes,  nicely  penciled  eye  brows,  and  a  face  indicative  of 
a  clear  conscience,  and  a  good  digestive  apparatus.  He  is  on  the 
committee  on  agriculture,  on  the  select  committee,  on  the  rules  of 
the  house,  on  state  prisons,  and  on  medical  societies. 

SAMUEL  ALFRED  FOOT. 

Judge  Foot  is  one  of  the  oldest  and  ablest  members  of  the  Legisla- 
ture. He  is  a  native  of  Watertown,  Connecticut,  and  is  the  son  of  a 
farmer.  The  farm  on  which  he  was  born  has  been  in  the  family  five 
generations,  and  is  now  the  property  of  a  blood  relative.  He  acquired 
his  elementary  education  in  the  old,  red  school-house  which  formerly 
stood  on  the  village  green.  When  in  his  teens  he  left  home  to  live 
with  his  brother,  Ebenezer  Foot,  a  member  of  the  bar  in  the  city  of 
Troy.  After  spending  one  year  in  his  brother's  office  he  went  to 
Union  college,  where  he  remained  four  years;  not  having  the  means 
to  complete  his  studies,  he  repaired  to  the  office  of  Judge  Thompson  of 
Saratoga  county ;  remained  nine  months  there,  and  then  completed 
his  studies  with  his  brother  and  S.  North,  Esq.,  who  had  opened  an 
office  in  Albany.  When  Mr.  North  died,  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
went  into  full  partnership  with  his  brother,  who  was  twenty  years 
his  senior.  After  being  in  partnership  with  him  eighteen  months  his 
brother  died,  and  the  Supreme  Court  admitted  him  as  a  counsellor, 
and  Chancellor  Kent,  as  a  solicitor  on  ex  gratia.  He  at  once  com- 
menced to  argue  cases  in  the  Supreme  Court.  The  first  case  he 
argued  in  the  Court  for  the  Correction  of  Errors,  was  Jackson  ex- 
dem,  Houseman  ex  deth  versus  Sebrig  and  Carpenter,  against  Emmet 
and  Wells,  in  which  he  gained  for  his  clients  seventy  thousand 
dollars,  and  received  a  fee  of  ten  thousand  dollars  for  his  services, 
which,  with  the  exception  of  one  thousand  dollars  retained  by  him- 
self, he  applied  to  the  payment  of  his  deceased  brother's  debts,  and 
to  a  provision  for  his  widow  and  daughter. 

Judge  Foot  has  been  engaged  in  many  interesting  and  important 
cases.  He  is  one  of  the  first  commercial  lawyers  in  the  state.  After 
leaving  Albany  he  practiced  his  profession  in  the  city  of  New  York, 
where  he  acquired  an  independent  fortune .  He  has  now  retired  to  a  beau- 
tiful residence  in  Geneva,  which  district  he  represents  for  the  second 
term  in  the  Legislature.  He  speaks  frequently  and  fluently  on  all  topics 
brought  before  the  House,  and  reads  carefully  every  bill  presented  to 
the  Legislature.  He  is  one  of  the  most  industrious  men  in  the  House, 
working  early  and  late,  and  watching  the  treasury  with  a  vigilance 
that  would  do  credit  to  Joseph  Hume,  the  great  economist  of  England. 
He  scarcely  gives  himself  time  to  eat  or  sleep,  being  on  committees 
which  demand  almost  all  the  time  of  recess ;  and  John  Quincy  Adams 
was  not  more  punctual  to  his  desk  than  Judge  Foot  is  to  his  seat.  He 


25 

is  chairman  of  the  judiciary  committee ;  on  the  committee  of  excise, 
and  the  criminal  code  committee. 

In  person  he  is  rather  below  medium  stature ;  has  a  litle  stoop  of 
the  shoulders;  gray  hair,  originally  dark;  sharp  brown  eyes,  a  hooked 
or  eagle  nose,  a  broad,  high,  shining  forehead;  has  a  habit  of  swaying 
his  head  from  side  to  side  when  he  speaks.  His  voice  is  fine,  but  he 
pitches  it  at  a  high  key,  and  gesticulates  with  so  much  earnestness 
as  to  attract  the  attention  of  the  House.  He  is  about  sixty  years  of 
age;  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church;  a  man  of  high  social 
standing.  Under  Gov.  Clinton  he  held  the  office  of  district  attorney, 
and  was  removed  to  make  room  for  B.  F.  Butler.  Since  he  has  been  in 
Geneva,  he  was  appointed  by  Gov.  Hunt,  presiding  Judge  of  the 
Court  of  Appeals. 

JOHN  H.  FUNK, 

Member  from  Kings  county,  is  forty  years  of  age.  He  was  born  in 
Cherry  Valley,  Otsego  county,  Feb'y  8,  1817,  where  he  resided  till 
nineteen  years  of  age,  learning  the  trade  of  house  carpenter.  In  the 
year  1836  he  left  the  home  of  his  childhood  to  seek  his  fortune  in  the 
great  city  of  New  York,  where  he  resided  till  about  the  year  1846;  he 
then  removed  to  Brooklyn,  and  went  into  business  as  a  builder,  on 
his  own  account,  which  he  has  pursued  with  great  energy  and  success, 
having  been  rewarded  with  an  ample  fortune  for  his  industry  and 
integrity.  Last  fall,  being  about  to  retire  from  the  active  scenes  of 
his  profession,  the  Democratic  party  of  his  district,  of  which  Mr. 
Funk  has  from  his  earliest  days  been  a  faithful  member,  unanimously 
nominated  and  elected  him,  by  a  large  majority,  to  represent  them  in 
the  Legislature.  As  a  legislator  Mr.  Funk  exhibits  the  same  untir- 
ing industry  in  protecting  the  interests  of  his  constituents,  as  he 
always  did  in  his  own  private  business. 

Mr.  F.  is  about  five  feet  nine  inches  tall;  of  the  nervous,  sanguine 
temperament;  has  blue  eyes,  pale  complexion,  and  brown  hair;  a 
well  developed  forehead.  He  is  president  of  the  Lafayette  Insurance 
Company  of  the  city  of  Brooklyn. 

ERASTUS  W.  GLOVER 

Has  made  politics  the  study  of  his  life.  He  seems  to  have  been  born 
a  politician,  and  is  familiar  with  all  the  crooks  and  convolutions  of 
all  the  political  organizations  of  the  day.  He  is  a  native  of  the  city 
of  New  York,  and  represents  the  Ninth  Assembly  District,  which  em- 
braces the  eleventh  ward  of  the  city  of  New  York.  He  has  been  in 
the  House  twice  before  (in  1853  and  in  1856),  and  of  course  has  had 
considerable  experience  as  a  legislator.  He  is  on  the  committee  of 
sixteen,  the  excise  committee,  and  the  committee  to  equalize  taxa- 
tion. 

Mr.  G.  is  a  good  parliamentarian,  speaks  sensibly'and  forcibly, 
and  commands  the  ear  of  the  House — because  he  is  not  a  bore,  and 
has  the  good  sense  and  good  taste  to  "  stop  speaking  when  he  has 
done."  He  is  a  Democrat  of  the  old  school ;  has  been  superintendent 
of  streets,  &c.  in  New  York;  is  a  master  mechanic  (a  painter); 
attends  the  Universalist  church;  was  chairman  of  the  excise  commit- 


26 

tee  at  the  last  session  of  the  House,  and  gave  a  report  adverse  to  pro* 
hibition. 

During  the  Dorr  excitement  he  went  with  Mike  Walsh  and  other 
volunteers  to  fight  for  the  Oliver  Cromwell  of  Rhode  Island.  Mr.  G.  is 
thirty-five  years  of  age,  of  medium  stature,  pale  complexion,  blue 
eyes  and  brown  hair;  is  of  the  sensitive  temperament;  has  a  good 
share  of  courage,  is  courteous  and  obliging,  and  true  to  his  consti- 
tuents. 

SAMUEL  H.  GRANT 

Is  from  Worcester,  Otsego  county,  and  represents  the  First  District 
of  that  county.  He  was  a  Democrat,  born  in  the  blood,  and  sticks 
to  his  Democracy  in  its  hour  of  adversity  as  well  as  in  the  palmy  days 
of  its  prosperity;  is  a  lawyer;  has  been  county  superintendent 
of  schools.  He  attends  the  Methodist  church;  is  opposed  to 
prohibition.  He  was  born  in  Chenango  county;  studied  Jaw  with 
Elijah  Brown,  Esq.,  and  commenced  the  practice  of  law  in  the  town 
where  he  now  resides.  He  is  on  the  committee  of  two-thirds  and 
three-fifths  bills,  the  committee  of  privileges  and  elections,  on  the  spe- 
cial committee  to  revise  the  criminal  code,  and  on  the  special  com- 
mittee on  capital  punishment. 

Mr.  Grant  is  forty  years  of  age,  short  and  stout  built,  has  a  robust 
form  and  rosy  face,  blue  eyes  and  dark  hair.  He  is  a  faithful,  ear- 
nest, hard-working  and  very  useful  man.  May  his  district  always 
GRANT  so  good  a  representative. 

ISAAC    GEORGE 

Is  a  member  of  the  Assembly,  representing  the  Second  District  of 
Chautauque  county,  and  resides  in  the  village  of  Fredonia.  He  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Gainseville,  Wyoming  (late  Genesee)  county, 
on  the  first  day  of  May,  1818. 

In  early  life  the  desolating  scourge  of  intemperance  sundered  for 
him  the  paradise  of  a  parental  home,  and  left  him  from  the  age  of  six 
years  with  little  protection  or  aid,  except  the  charities  of  the  world, 
to  enable  him  to  meet  and  overcome  its  multiplied  temptations  and 
trials. 

The  acknowledgment  of  an  honored  mother's  many  and  tearful 
sacrifices  in  his  behalf,  and  also  his  present  regards  for  a  reformed 
and  venerable  father,  he  would  deem  it  a  breach  of  gratitude  and 
filial  duty  to  withhold. 

He  was  reared  principally  in  the  vicinity  of  Springville,  Erie  coun- 
ty, residing,  portions  of.  the  time,  with  different  families  in  that  sec- 
tion, until  the  age  of  twenty,  during  which  period  he  succeeded  in 
obtaining  an  education  which  has  enabled  him  thus  far  to  fill,  with 
fair  literary  credit,  the  various  positions  which  he  has  since  been  cal- 
led upon  to  occupy  in  life.  Springville  Academy  was  his  Alma  Mater. 
During  this  period  he  was  accustomed  to  employ  himself  a  portion  of 
each  successive  year  in  teaching  common  school. 

Possessed  of  strong  religious  sympathies,  he  embraced,  at  Ihe  age 
of  eighteen,  the  peculiar  doctrines  of  the  Universalist  denomination, 
and  received  its  fellowship  as  a  clergyman  in  1840. 


27 

In  1841  he  married  Miss  Mary  Brewer,  of  Cuba,  Alleghany  county, 
with  whom,  and  three  lovely  daughters,  his  home  is  now  blest  "with 
life's  best  attractions.  The  following  year  he  located  in  Independ- 
ence, in  the  last  named  county,  as  pastor  of  a  society  of  his  faith. 

In  1844,  he  took  the  pastoral  charge  of  a  society  at  Perrysburg, 
Ohio,  where  he  remained  two  years.  He  then  (in  1846)  returned  to 
Springville.the  home  of  his  boyhood  days,  in  which  place  he  succeed- 
ed in  organizing  a  Universalist  society  and  building  a  church. 

After  remaining  here  about  five  years  he  removed  (in  1851)  to 
Chautauque  county,  where  he  has  since  resided,  with  the  exception 
of  two  years  ('54  and  '55)  spent  in  Middleport,  Niagara  county,  as 
pastor  of  a  society  in  that  village. 

Failing  health  and  a  disgust  for  the  apparent  necessity  of  ministerial 
changes,  which  have  become  so  common  of  late,  together  with  a  de- 
sire to  relieve  himself  of  that  dependence,  which  subjects  the  freedom 
of  the  pulpit  to  the  caprice  of  a  captious  and  intolerant  minority  in 
too  many  religious  societies,  induced  him,  not  long  since,  to  turn  his 
attention  to  the  study  and  practice  of  law. 

He  has,  within  the  past  year,  been  admitted  as  an  attorney,  which 
position  will  not.  in  his  opinion,  necessarily  preclude  him  from  the 
privilege  of  speaking  in  behalf  of  Christ  and  religion,  should  occasion 
require. 

He  has  always  been  a  working  friend  of  temperance  and  favors  pro- 
hibition. 

Formerly  a  Whig,  he  united  with  the  Republican  party  at  its 
inauguration,  and.  during  the  late  campaign,  was  among  the  leading 
speakers  of  his  section  of  the  state. 

His  nomination  for  his  present  position  was  endorsed  on  the  4th 
of  November  last  by  about  two  thousand  plurality. 

Mr.  George  is  a  tall,  well-formed  man,  with  brown  hair,  blue  eyes 
and  an  earnest  face.  He  speaks  distinctly  and  deliberately  and  is  a 
man  of  considerable  power;  he  commands  the  respect  of  the  house. 

It  is  our  opinion  there  is  a  bright  future  before  this  gentleman,  for 
he  is  an  untiring  student,  a  close  thinker,  a  man  of  unexceptionable 
habits,  and  has  the  peculiar  tact  to  win  golden  opinions  from  his  asso- 
ciates. 

Mr.  G.  is  on  the  committee  of  colleges,  academies  and  common 
schools,  and  on  the  committee  of  excise,  and  chairman  of  committee 
on  capital  punishment. 

C.  P.  GRANGER 

Represents  the  Second  District  in  Jefferson  county — a  district  "  wor- 
thy of  mention  "  for  its  mineral  productions,  its  lumber,  its  agricul- 
tural advantages  and  its  water-power.  It  is  the  terminus  of  the 
Black  River  Canal,  and  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  "Thousand 
Islands  "  that  gem  the  bosom  of  the  beautiful  St.  Lawrence.  In  Mr. 
Granger's  district  are  the  famous  Sterlingville  Iron  Works,  \vhere  pig 
and  refined  iron  of  a  superior  quality  are  manufactured.  He  resides 
in  the  town  of  Le  Ray,  which  was  the  residence  of  the  famous  James 
Le  Ray,  who  founded  the  first  agricultural  society  in  this  state — a 


28 

society  which  has  at  the  present  writing  no  equal  in  the  common- 
wealth. 

Mr.  G.  has  formerly  been  a  teacher;  he  is  now  an  engineer  by  pro- 
fession. He  was  several  years  superintendent  of  education  in  his 
own  town,  being  chosen  while  his  party  was  in  the  minority.  He  is 
forty- three  years  of  age,  a  widower,  and  has  a  good  estate.  He  was 
formerly  a  Whig;  is  now  a  Republican;  is  friendly  to  prohibition;  a 
strong,  popular  man,  who  will  watch  with  vigilance  the  welfare  of 
his  constituents.  He  is  a  nephew  of  Gen.  Amos  P.  Granger,  of  Syra- 
cuse, one  of  the  true  men  in  Congress  who  has  had  the  courage  and 
talent  to  make  his  mark  on  the  side  of  liberty  and  humanity. 

C.  P.  Granger  is  a  large,  stout  man,  with  a  high,  broad  forehead, 
brown  hair,  blue  eyes,  and  a  full  face  indicating  firmness  and  honesty 
of  purpose. 

He  has  just  been  elected  a  justice  of  the  peace  in  the  town  where 
he  resides,  thus  evincing  the  satisfaction  of  his  immediate  constituents, 
and  the  appreciation  by  his  neighbors  and  townsmen  of  his  ability  and 
integrity  in  the  discharge  of  official  duties.  He  belongs  to  the  com- 
mittee on  public  lands. 

JOHN  GOULD 

Represents  the  Second  District  of  Niagara.  .He  occupied  the  same 
position  last  year.  He  is  a  plain  farmer,  blessed  with  a  large  share 
of  good  common  sense,  and  that  firmness  of  character  which  insures 
the  respect  of  a  large  circle  of  political  friends.  He  has  held  town 
and  county  offices  for  many  years — has  been  supervisor,  loan  commis- 
sioner, &c.,  &c.  He  was,  until  recently,  a  Cass  Democrat,  but  when 
that  party  steeped  itself  in  alcohol  and  gave  up  to  slavery  in  order 
to  preserve  its  existence,  he  left  it  in  disgust  and  united  with  the  Re- 
publicans. He  is  an  outspoken  temperance  man;  a  member  of  the 
Congregational  church;  a  man  of  family — seven  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters— and  a  man  of  fortune. 

Although  his  parents  were  United  States  citizens,  he  was  born  in 
Canada  in  1797 ;  came  to  the  district  he  now  represents  when  a  child, 
and  has  lived  there  for  more  than  half  a  century.  He  is  a  stout  .built 
man,  rather  below  the  common  stature ;  has  brown  hair  touched  with 
silver ;  a  full,  fat  round  face;  is  a  pleasant  and  agreeable  man.  Long 
may  he  wave,  and  may  his  shadow  never  be  less.  He  is  on  the  com- 
mittee of  Indian  affairs.  We  consider  him  worth  his  weight  in 
gould. 

JOHN  T.  HOGEBOOM. 

The  name  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  clearly  enough  indicates  its 
Holland  extraction;  yet  while  the  paternal  fountain  has  carried  along 
with  its  flow  the  title  of  its  origin,  it  has,  like  the  natural  stream  in 
its  descent,  received  into  itself  the  flood  of  many  branches.  This 
continent  presents  in  this  respect  the  opposite  of  the  old.  There,  the 
streams  of  human  lineage  have  run  divergent,  giving  rise  to  the  dis- 
tinct families  of  the  new.  Here,  they  are  receiving  their  convergent 
flow,  assimilating  the  races  of  men  into  a  harmonious  whole;  and 
following,  as  it  would  seem,  like  the  circulation  of  blood  in  the  indi- 


29 

vidual,  some  great  law  of  humanity.  We  make  these  philosophical 
abstractions  parenthetically,  because  they  are  suggested  by  the  family 
name,  though  they  would  more  properly  belong  to  a  treatise  on  no- 
menclature than  to  these  "  hurrygraphs."  • 

From  his  father,  Judge  Hogeboom  derives  not  only  Dutch,  but  the 
blood  of  the  Huguenots;  from  his  mother,  English  and  Irish — we  may 
add,  too,  in  passing,  in  all  something  of  a  "  rebel  "  character.  That 
of  the  Huguenots  is  well  known;  some  of  his  ancestors  were  among 
the  Rhode  Island  Baptists,  the  first  free  offshoot  of  New  England 
Puritanism.  The  celebrated  Quakeress,  Sarah  Smith,  who  was  tied 
to  a  cart  and  whipped  through  the  streets  of  Salem,  for  "  religion's 
sake,"  was  a  direct  lineal  ancestor. 

In  all  the  contests  upon  this  continent,  for  religious  and  political 
freedom,  bloody  or  bloodless,  the  different  branches  of  this  family 
have  borne  a  conspicuous  part  upon  the  "  rebel  "  side.  Keverence 
for  the  frost  of  hoary  age  seems  to  have  constituted  but  a  very  small 
part  of  the  family  character,  and  this  is  indubitably  inherited  by  the 
person  we  are  now  endeavoring  to  present  to  our  readers.  We  can 
scarcely  more  than  refer  to  a  very  few  of  the  features  of  a  history 
which  has  been  a  very  eventful  one,  and  of  more  than  common  inci- 
dent. 

Judge  Hogeboom  was  born  in  1816,  on  the  spot  where  he  now 
resides,  and  where  have  dwelt  his  direct  ancestors  since  the  vacating 
of  possession  by  the  Aborigines.  It  is  a  beautiful  and  quiet  valley, 
in  the  heart  of li  old  Columbia,"  and,  like  most  of  the  original  Dutch 
settlements  in  this  country,  remarkable  alike  for  the  salubrity  of  its 
climate  and  the  fertility  of  its  soil.  His  early  education,  until  the 
age  of  fourteen,  was  from  the  common  school  of  the  town.  These 
schools  while  wanting  many  of  the  advantages  of  a  more  advanced 
educati'on,  nevertheless  certainly  furnish  a  kind  of  mental  aliment  in 
a  higher  degree  than  any  other  educational  institutions.  Here,  meet 
the  sons  and  daughters  of  the  whole  community,  in  whose  childlike 
simplicity  and  truthfulness,  the  artificial  distinctions  of  society  find 
but  little  favor.  Character  stands  upon  its  natural  bases,  and  pre- 
sents views  of  human  nature  which  no  other  condition  so  well  affords. 
Here,  arc  revealed  the  secret  springs  of  human  action,  open  to  clear 
inspection,  which  more  or  less  become  concealed  in  the  covered  ways 
of  after  life.  The  judge's  powers  of  observation  were  always  acute, 
and  much  of  his  facility  and  unerring  accuracy  in  judging  the  motives 
of  men,  may  be  due  to  this  early  training  in  the  common  schools — 
those  Nation's  nurseries  of  freemen. 

At  the  age  of  14  he  was  sent  to  a  neighboring  academy,  where,  di- 
viding his  time  between  study  and  hunting  and  fishing,  he  matured 
all  he  ever  received  of  a  classical  education.  It  must  not  be  inferred 
from  this  allusion  to  out-door  sports,  that  he  was  inattentive  to  his 
studies;  on  the  contrary,  no  pupil  made  greater  proficiency.  The 
privilege  of  following  the  bent  of  his  own  inclination  for  half  the 
time,  was  secured  to  him  by  his  father,  as  a  condition  of  his  entering 
the  institution,  and  one  which  the  subject  of  it  was  not  very  likely  to 
surrender.  Against  the  urgent  solicitation  of  his  friends  he  aban- 
doned the  design  of  a  "college  course,"  and  became  a  pupil  of  the 


30 

famous  Amos  Eaton  in  a  quiet  school  on  the  banks  of  the  Hudson. 
He  remained  here  about  three  years,  busying  himself  in  hammering 
rocks,  picking  to  pieces  flowers,  stuffing  birds,  pinning  butterflies, 
dissecting  frogs  and  lizards,  etc.,  etc.,  thus  practically  illustrating  his 
text-books  -on  geology,  botany  and  natural  history  as  a  diversion, 
while  pursuing  his  studies  in  natural  philosophy,  mechanics  and 
mathematics.  In  this  last  branch  he  has  few  superiors.  He  mastered 
conic  sections,  fluxious,  the  differential  and  integral  calculus,  and  in 
fact  the  whole  of  the  science  of  pure  mathematics  at  a  very  early  age, 
and  without  the  aid  of  a  teacher.  To  this  severe  training  and 
thorough  discipline  may  be  ascribed  his  remarkable  powers  of  analy- 
sis and  induction,  his  close  reasoning  and  logical  force. 

In  1833  he  went  to  Kinderhook  and  commenced  the  study  of  the 
law.  In  1835,  he  migrated  "to  the  West,"  (Buffalo  was  then  regard- 
ed as  "out  west")  finished  his  studies,  and  commenced  the  practice 
of  his  profession,  at  the  "queen  city  of  the  lakes."  While  there  he 
planned  an  expedition  across  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  formed  a  com- 
pany for  its  execution,  which  failed  in  its  undertaking,  only  from  the 
strong  and  affectionate  interference  of  his  parents,  who  had  become 
apprised  of  it  before  it  was  too  late.  The  incident  is  worthy  of  re- 
cord, perhaps,  as  covering  in  design  a  project  since  so  gloriously  exe- 
cuted by  a  young  adventurer,  "the  Pathfinder  of  Empire,"  whose 
deeds  have  passed  into  history  and  developed  to  the  world  a  charac- 
ter destined  to  become  immortal. 

In  1842  he  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  McClellan,  a  daughter  of 
Dr.  Samuel  McClellan,  of  Nassau,  a  woman  of  rare  accomplishments 
and  great  personal  beauty.  We  have  not  space  to  devote  to  the  his- 
tory of  his  elevation  to  the  bench,  his  election  to  various  'posts  of 
honor,  his  eloquent  speeches  before  agricultural  and  literary  societies, 
his  political  labors  in  '48;  these  facts  will  appear  in  a  larger' volume 
nearly  ready  for  the  press.  Judge  H.  is  a  clear  thinker,  a  close  rea- 
soner,  and  an  able  and  eloquent  debater,  and  is  one  of  the  first  men 
in  the  Legislature.  In  person  he  is  of  common  stature,  of  the  ner- 
vous sanguine  temperament,  has  dark  hair,  brown  eyes,  wears  a  long 
auburn  beard,  which  becomes  him  admirably.  Our  sketch  of  Judge 
H.,  which  we  had  prepared,  is  too  long  for  the  general  scope  and  de- 
sign of  this  work.  It  will  appear  in  a  volume  entitled  the  "  Empire 
man  of  the  Empire  State." 

LYMAN  HAWES 

Is  the  heaviest  man  in  the  House  and  has  chosen  his  seat  in  sleepy 
hollow,  but  the  reader  must  not  suppose  on  that  account  that  he  is  a 
phlegmatic  man,  for  he  is  an  active  and  useful  man;  indeed  the-mem- 
bers  in  that  soporific  region  are  always  wide  awake  during  the  sessions 
of  the  House.  Mr.  H.  is  a  farmer;  has  a  full,  fresh  face,  blue  eyes, 
and  his  once  fair  hair  is  now  beginning  to  be  bleached  by  years.  He 
is  a  solid  man  physically  and  a  sound  man  mentally.  He  represents 
one  of  the  districts  in  Livington  county.  He  is  on  the  committee  of 
towns  and  counties. 


31 
AVILLIAM  HOTCHKISS. 

Senator  Hotchkiss  is  an  amiable  gentleman  with  a  clear  head  and  a 
generous  heart,  was  originally  a  mechanic.  He  has  devoted  hi*  leisure 
moments  to  the  study  af  polities,  and  is  really  one  of  the  ablest,  men 
in  the  Senate,  having  a  sound  mind  and  discriminating  taste.  He  was 
with  Michael  Hoffman  and  other  distinguished  men  in  the  constitu- 
tional convention  in  1846;  has  held  various  town  and  county  offices, 
and  was  never  defeated  when  a  candidate  for,  office;  was  elected  by 
the  Americans  and  represents  the  Fourteenth  District.  He  is  fifty 
years  of  age;  has  round  blue  eyes,  gray  hair  and  a  full,  calm  face; 
he  wears  spectacles,  pays  strict  attention  to  business,  and  deserves 
the  reputation  he  has  won  for  unswerving  veracity.  He  is  a  native 
of  Albany;  attends  the  Presbyterian  church. 

JOHN  K.  HALE. 

Senator  Hale  is  a  hale  and  hearty  looking  man,  with  a  round,  full, 
fat,  pleasant  face,  closely  shaved,  small  blue  eyes,  which  are  nearly 
closed  when  he  speaks,  and  that  can  not  be  owing  to  a  lack  of  lan- 
guage, for  he  is  one  of  the  readiest  and  most  eloquent  debaters  i,i  the 
Senate  Chamber,  being  full  of  that  human  lightning  which  wings  a 
man's  words  with  h're  and  comes  home  to  the  heart  with  electric 
energy.  His  looks  indicate  indomitable  force  of  character,  and  his 
mouth  does  not  seem  to  be  formed  to  say  "I  cant/'  He  must  be  about 
forty-five  years  of  age;  is  a  lawyer,  having  a  large  practice  in  Horn- 
ellsville,  Steuben  county.  He  was  in  the  Assembly  in  '49.  He  is  on 
the  committee  on  grievances  and  on  privileges  and  elections. 

JOHN  B.  HALSTEAD 

Owing  to  a  misfortune  which  resulted  in  a  broken  limb,  and  at  one 
time  threatened  his  life,  Senator  Halstead  has  been  detained  at  home 
during  a  greater  portion  of  the  session  of  the  Senate.  We  saw  him 
the  other  day  leaning  upon  the  arm  of  a  friend  and  using  crutches 
making  his  way  slowly  to  his  seat.  He  is  a  tall,  pale,  nervous, 
sickly  looking  man;  a  merchant,  and  when  able  to  attend  to  his  busi 
ness  is  very  active,  and  is  noted  for  the  soundness  of  his  judgment 
and  the  integrity  of  his  purposes.  He  is  apparently  forty- five  years 
of  age,  and  we  hope  he  will  be  able  to  throw  away  his  crutches  in 
time  to  run  again  tor  office,  for  he  deserves  the  confidence  and  sup- 
port of  his  district.  He  is  on  the  committee  on  manufactures  and 
the  committee  of  privileges  and  elections. 

JOHN  HANFORD 

Is  a  tall,  good  looking  man  with  dark  eyes  and  dark  hair  and  a  rosy 
face,  terminating  in  a  moustache.  He  is  from  Brooklyn.  Kings 
county;  is  a  Democrat,  dyed  in  the  wool,  and  his  earnest  faft  shows 
that  he  is  a  warm  friend  and  not  a  vicious  enemy.  He  watches  the 
weal  of  his  district  with  unsleeping  vigilance.  He  is  on  the  com- 
mittee on  claims,  and  the  committee  of  commerce  and  navigation. 
He  is  a  native  of  Norwalk,  Ct.,  39  years  of  age;  has  been  a  resident 
of  that  part  of  Brooklyn  formerly  known  as  Williamsburgh  for  20 
years.  This  is  his  second  term  in  Assembly;  he  represents  a  district 
which,  under  the  new  apportionment  will  be  entitled  to  two  members. 


32 
WILLIAM  H.  HYDE 

Was  born  in  the  town  of  Oxford,  N.  Y.,  in  the  year  1826.  Ho 
attended  school  in  that  town  at  the  academy,  afterwards  became  an 
assistant  teacher  in  that  celebrated  institution  of  learning.  He  grad- 
uated at  Geneva  (now  Hobart  Free  College)  in  1848,  and  immediately 
assumed  the  province  of  teacher  in  the  town  of  Delhi,  N.  Y.,  where 
he  remained  a  short  time  and  then  returned  to  Oxford  and  read  law 
in  the  office  of  Mr.  Henry  R.  Mygatt,  Esq.  He  represents  the  Second 
Assembly  District  of  Chenango.  His  father,  now  dead,  was  a  repre- 
sentative from  the  same  county  in  1822  and  in  1832.  Mr.  Hyde  is  a 
very  efficient  man,  whose  nice  taste  and  literary  attainments  eminently 
fit  him  to  perform  the  functions  of  a  Legislator.  He  is  on  the  joint 
library  committee,  the  committee  on  internal  affairs  of  towns  and 
counties,  and  the  committee  to  revise  the  criminal  code.  Mr.  H.  is  a 
retiring,  modest  man,  speaks  to  the  point,  and  his  wit  is  as  keen  as  a 
Damascus  blade.  His  address  before  the  Oxford  Literary  Society  is 
a  masterpiece  of  elegant  composition.  In  person  he  is  slender,  with 
a  thin  face,  dark  hair  and  whiskers.  He  is  a  bachelor. 


Represents  the  Third  Assembly  District  in  Oneida  county;  is  a  Repub- 
lican, was  formerly  a  Whig;  is  on  the  committee  of  internal  affairs  of 
towns  and  counties;  is  a  married  man;  not  a  member  of  any  church, 
but  usually  attends;  is  thirty-three  years  of  age;  has  reddish  brown 
hair,  a  smoothly  shaved,  round,  florid  face,  large  blue  eyes  ;  is  impul- 
sive, energetic,  cordial  and  free-hearted.  He  is  engaged  in  manufac- 
turing and  dealing  in  lumber;  is  in  comfortable  circumstances,  indeed, 
independent  His  honest  face  would  frighten  any  lobby  man  who 
would  dare  attempt  to  approach  him  with  a  bribe. 

JOHN  W.  HARCOURT 

Belongs  to  the  Albany  District.  Was  for  many  years  agent  for  the 
People's  line  of  steamboats;  is  a  whole-souled  fellow,  sociable  and 
generous ;  was  originally  a  Soft  Democrat,  but  united  with  the  K.  N.s 
at  the  outset  of  their  organization;  was  their  candidate  for  Congress 
in  '54,  but  was  defeated  by  Dr.  Dickson,  then  a  good  Whig,  now  a 
true  blue  Republican.  Mr.  H.  is  about  forty-seven  years  of  age,  a 
good  looking  man.  He  is  a  member  of  the  committee  on  public 
buildings,  also  of  the  militia  committee.  He  is  a  popular  favorite, 
and  blessed  with  many  generous  traits  of  character. 

j,  JAMES  HUNTINGTON 

Represents  the  Twenty-fifth  Senatorial  District.  He  is  a  farmer,  a 
man  of  substance,  a  Republican;  attends  the  Presbyterian  church;  is 
a  native  of  New  London,  Connecticut;  has  dark  hair  and  whiskers, 
snowed  over  with  the  storms  of  fifty-nine  winters;  he  has  thin  lips 
and  blue  eyes  and  an  honest  face.  He  is  on  the  banking  committee, 
and  the  committee  on  expiring  laws. 


N    33 
A.  HUTCHINSON 

Is  a  tall  man,  well  proportioned,  has  blue  eyes,  brown  hair,  a  rim  of 
whiskers  which  become  his  strongly-marked  face  as  feathers  do  an 
eagle.  He  is  forty-six  years  of  age,  follows  the  plow,  has  taught 
school,  has  been  accustomed  to  public  speaking,  having  lectured  fre- 
quently on  temperance  and  freedom ;  he  took  the  stump  for  the  Repub- 
lican cause  and  candidates  last  fall,  and  rendered  efficient  service 
during  the  campaign.  Mr.  H.  was  formerly  a  Whig,  afterwards  a 
Liberty  Party  man,  is  now  a  Republican.  He  attends  the  Congrega- 
tional church;  is  regarded  as  an  ultra  temperance  man.  We  judge 
him  to  be  a  man  of  great  firmness  and  decision  of  character,  earnest  and 
zealous  in  the  cause  of  freedom,  bold  and  fearless  in  the  avowal  oi 
his  opinions.  He  is  a  man  of  sterling  honesty,  and  will  labor  assidu- 
ously for  the  welfare  of  his  constituents. 

Born  in  Remsen,  Oneida  county.  His  father  emigrated  to  Orleans 
county  in  1816,  to  the  same  lot  on  which  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  born.  He  is  on  the  committee  on  public  lands. 

W.  T.  HASTINGS 

Was  born  in  Chemung  county,  in  the  town  in  which  he  now  resides — 
proving  the  fact  that  there  are  exceptions  to  the  rule,  that  prophets 
have  no  honor  in  their  own  country  among  their  own  kindred.  Mr. 
Hastings  is  forty-six  years  of  age,  nearly  six  feet  high  and  of  fair 
proportions;  he  has  brown  hair  of  a  reddish  cast,  and  sandy  whiskers; 
he  wears  spectacles,  his  eyes  having  been  injured  by  the  explosion  of 
a  potash  kettle.  He  is  a  thorough-going  temperance  man,  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  church,  and  a  true  friend  to  every  Christian  and 
charitable  institution. 

He  was  for  many  years  a  regular  Democrat;  was  postmaster  in  the 
town  in  which  he  lives,  at  the  time  there  was  such  a  stampede 
toward  the  Buffalo  Platform,  and  he  was  removed  in  consequence  of 
his  barn-burning  proclivities.  He  was  a  delegate  from  his  county 
in  state  convention,  when  the  Republicans  and  Whigs  united  and 
formed  the  Republican  party.  Gov.  King  presided  at  said  conven- 
tion. He  attended  the  Philadelphia  convention  that  nominated  Col. 
Fremont  for  President;  came  home  and  found  that  his  village  paper 
had  been  bought  over  by  the  Democrats  to  the  support  of  Buchanan, 
and  he  immediately  went  to  New  York  and  bought  a  press,  hired  an 
editor  and  hands,  and  raised  the  flag  of  freedom  in  his  village,  and 
paid  the  expense  of  running  the  press  until  he  left  to  serve  his  con- 
stituents at  Albany. 

He  was  a  poor  boy ;  worked  at  farming  until  he  was  twenty-four 
years  of  age,  then  operated  as  a  merchant  for  twelve  years,  then  went 
into  the  milling  business.  He  now  owns  the  Chemung  County  Bank. 

He  is  a  man  of  tireless  energy  of  character,  frank  and  friendly,  of 
correct  business  habits  and  uncommon  executive  ability.  He  was 
elected  on  the  Republican  ticket.  Some  of  his  political  opponents 
voted  for  him,  knowing  that  he  would  spare  no  labor  to  promote  the 
general  good  of  his  constituents.  Mr.  H.  is  on  the  canal  committee, 
on  the  committee  on  census,  and  the  committee  for  equalizing  the 
state  tax. 

3 


34 
A.  V.  HARPENDING 

Represents  Yates  county,  and  is  now  serving  his  first  term  as  a 
Legislator.  He  is  a  lawyer  in  good  standing,  and  has  been  district 
attorney  in  the  county  which  he  represents.  Was  a  Wooley  Whig, 
but  is  now  a  Black  Republican.  He  attends  the  Presbyterian  church. 
Is  a  bachelor,  thirty-seven  years  of  age.  of  small  stature,  has  black 
hair  and  dark  eyes,  a  high  promontory-like  forehead.  He  rather  dis- 
tinguished himself  in  a  speech  made  in  defence  of  the  public  buildings 
at  Havana.  He  made  an  able  and  argumentative  reply  to  Mr.  Van 
Valkenburgh,  who  was  eloquent  in  behalf  of  Watkins.  Mr.  H.  is 
chairman  of  the  committee  on  the  internal  affairs  of  towns  and 
counties  and  a  member  of  the  Kansas  committee. 

GEORGE  M.  HOLLIS. 

Mr.  Hollis  is  a  resident  of  the  town  of  Butternuts,  Otsego  county, 
a  gentleman  .of  pleasing  exterior,  and  in  easy  circumstances.  He  is 
about  thirty-three  years  of  age,  and  has  been  engaged  in  the  mercan- 
tile business  until  recently,  when  he  purchased  a  fertile  and  valuable 
farm  in  the  above  town,  where  he  now  resides,  at  peace  with  all  the 
world,  not  even  excluding  "the  rest  of  mankind."  Popular  at  home, 
the  vote  he  received  from  the  people  of  his  district  is  one  of  the  best 
testimonials  a  man  can  hope  for.  He  has  good  judgment,  sound 
sense,  and  will  legislate  for  the  good  of  the  whole  People. — N.  Y.  Sun. 

ANSON  INGRAHAM 

Is  from  the  First  District  in  Washington  county;  was  formerly  a 
Whig,  is  now  an  ardent  Republican;  attends  the  Presbyterian  church; 
has  been  a  merchant,  is  now  engaged  in  manufacturing  stoves  in  the 
city  of  Troy,  thus  immortalizing  his  name  in  iron.  He  has  a  noble 
countenance,  dark,  expressive  eyes,  dark  hair  slightly  curled.  In  his 
county  he  has  held  various  offices  of  trust,  and  supervisor  for  many 
years.  He  is  on  the  sub-committee  of  the  whole,  and  a  very  useful 
and  intelligent  member.  He  commands  the  respect  of  all,  by  his 
urbanity  and  undeviating  courtesy. 

HENRY  J   IRVING 

Is  a  native  of  New  York,  a  lawyer  by  profession,  an  American  in 
politics.  He  read  law  at  Ballston,  was  admitted  to  practice  by  the 
Supreme  Court,  at  the  Capitol,  and  now  deals  in  Littleton,  and 
Cook,  and  Blackstone  in  the  empire  city.  He  is  about  thirty  years 
of  age,  of  Scotch  descent  (his  parents  were  not  K.  N.'s);  attends  the 
Dutch  Reformed  church  (even  that  has  a  foreign  name);  is  a  bache- 
lor (no  specimen  of  young  America  in  his  family  yet) ;  has  light  brown 
hair;  blue  eyes;  speaks  frequently  and  with  considerable  ability;  is 
on  the  committee  of  three-fifth  bills,  and  the  expenses  of  the  House. 

Mr.  I.  stands  well  at  the  bar,  and  is  considered  a  good  fellow  in 
social  life.  May  he  earn  a  name  as  lasting  as  that  worn  by  his  dis- 
tinguished namesake,  the  Goldsmith  of  America. 


35 
DAVID  R.  FLOYD  JONES. 

It  is  generally  conceded  that  Mr.  Jones  is  one  of  the  ablest 
Democrats  in  the  House,  and  if  that  party  has  a  leader  there,  he  is 
the  most  prominent  man,  and  wears  the  belt  at  every  boxing  match. 
He  was  their  candidate  for  Speaker,  and  we  doubt  if  the  Democratic 
party  has  a  more  competent  man  in  the  state,  to  discharge  the 
responsible  and  delicate  functions  of  that  difficult  post.  Mr.  Jones 
has  a  good  voice,  speaks  deliberately,  distinctly  and  accurately,  and 
never  fails  to  get  the  eye  and  the  ear,  though  not  always  the  heart  of 
the  House.  He  is  a  man  of  noble  presence,  tall,  straight,  erect  and 
dignified,  with  dark  hair  and  piercing,  dark  eyes,  a  thoughtful  face 
fringed  with  whiskers.  He  is  one  of  the  hardest  of  the  Hards, 
opposed  to  prohibition,  and  inimical  to  agitation  on  the  subject  of 
slavery. 

David  R.  Floyd  Jones  was  born  at  South  Oyster  Bay,  Queens 
county.  Long  Island,  on  the  6th  of  April,  1813.  Entered  the  sopho- 
more class  of  Union  College,  Schenectady,  in  July,  1829,  and  gradu- 
ated in  1832.  Studie  1  law  with  Judge  Samuel  W.  Jones  of  Schenect- 
ady, and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1836,  and  practiced  law  in  the 
city  of  New  York.  Was  elected  a  member  of  the  Assembly  of  this 
state,  from  the  city  of  New  York  in  the  fall  of  1840,  re-elected  in 
1841,  and  again  elected  in  1842.  Was  elected  in  1843,  a  Senator,  to 
represent  the  First  Senatorial  District,  then  composed  of  the  city  and 
county  of  New  York,  the  county  of  Kings  and  the  county  of  Richmond. 
In  1846  was  elected  a  delegate  to  the  convention  which  framed  our 
present  state  constitution.  In  1848  was  chosen  clerk  of  the  Superior 
Court  of  the  city  of  New  York,  which  office  he  held  until  1852,  when 
he  resigned.  He  then  left  the  city  of  New  York  and  took  up  his 
residence  at  South  Oyster  Bay,  L.  I.,  on  the  estate  which  had  been 
owned  and  occupied  by  his  family  for  more  than  a  century  and  a  half. 
He  is  now  the  representative  in  the  Assembly  of  his  native  county  of 
Queens. 

THOMAS  JOHNSON 

Was  formerly  a  Democrat  and  cast  his  first  ballot  for  Martin  Van 
Buren.  In  1840  he  united  with  the  Whig  party,  and  remained  with* 
that  party  until  the  inauguration  of  Republicanism.  He  is  now  and 
probably  will  be  during  his  lifetime  a  "protective  tariff"  man  from 
principle,  and  obtained  the  votes  of  temperance  men  at  the  late 
election.  He  was  born  in  Saratoga  county,  is  forty-two  years  of  age, 
six  feet  tall,  has  brown  hair,  and  blue  eyes;  is  a  farmer;  belongs  to 
the  Reform  Baptist  church;  a  man  of  family.  He  is  an  honest,  in- 
dustrious and  intelligent  man. 

BARNA  R.  JOHNSON. 

A  more  respectable  Parliament  of  men  than  the  present  Legisla- 
ture of  this  state  has  seldom  convened  at  the  capitol  of  our  common- 
wealth. 

We  have  in  that  body  of  Legislators  men  of  talent  and  metal,  who 
will  r.ot  suffer  in  comparison  with  some  of  the  members  of  Congress 


36 

who  make  great  pretensions.  Littlejohn,  Baker,  Scott,  Van  Val- 
kenburgh,  Pendergast,  Foote,  and  many  other  celebrities  have  seats 
in  the  house;  but  we  now  invite  the  attention  of  our  readers  to  a 
sketch  of  a  young  lawyer  (Barna  R.  Johnson)  from  Delaware  county. 
This  quiet,  modest  young  man  belongs  to  the  class  of  self-made  men, 
self-taught,  self-reliant,  he  usually  accomplishes  whatever  he  under- 
takes. 

As  a  lawyer  he  has  been  eminently  successful  in  several  important 
suits,  and  has  won  green  laurels  and  golden  honors  in  the  face  of 
adverse  circumstances.  His  competitor  for  the  seat  he  occupies  was 
Barna  Radeker,  a  man  of  fortune  and  influence,  for  whom  the  subject 
of  this  sketch  was  named — a  singular  coincidence,  not  foreseen  when 
the  child  was  christened.  Mr.  Johnson  excels  as  an  advocate,  having 
a  good  voice  and  a  great  command  of  language.  Has  taken  part  in 
the  debate  of  most  of  the  important  questions  in  the  house;  makes 
his  best  efforts  when  he  has  strong  opposition.  He  is  on  the  judici- 
ary, two-thirds  and  three-fifths  committees.  He  has  been  frequently 
honored  by  his  constituents,  who  have  given  him  posts  of  honor  and 
trust  in  the  town  and  county. 

He  was  formerly  a  Seward  Whig,  but  early  identified  himself  with 
the  Republican  party.  Believes  in  the  inalienable  rights  of  man  and 
holds  that  governments  are  bound  to  secure  those  rights.  He  attends 
the  Presbyterian  church,  though  not  a  communicant.  Is  friendly  to 
the  temperance  enterprise,  but  will  not  over-legislate  on  the  question 
for  the  gratification  of  our  political  enemies. 

He  is  about  thirty  years  of  age;  has  a  bold,  high  forehead,  bright 
blue  eyes,  dark  hair,  inclined  to  curl,  wears  a  moustache,  is  rather 
below  the  medium  stature. 

He  dresses  with  care  and  neatness,  and  makes  a  good  appearance. 
We  predict  a  bright  future  for  him,  and  wish  him  success,  for  he  has 
a  great  heart. 

JOHN  H:  KETCHAM. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  young  man — perhaps  the  youngest 
man  in  the  House,  being  but  twenty-four  years  of  age — but  he  wears 
'an  old  head,  and  takes  to  business  and  politics  as  if  created  for  no 
other  purpose.  In  his  school-boy  time  he  was  an  active,  shrewd 
political  manager,  and  was  put  forward  for  the  suffrage  of  his  party 
even  before  he  ha,d  attained  his  majority.  This  is  his  second  term  in  * 
the  Legislature;  and  he  has  served  two  years  in  the  board  of  super- 
visors of  Dutchess  county.  He  is  a  consistent  member  of  the  Repub- 
lican party,  and  is  as  constant  as  the  pole-star  to  its  principles. 
About  the  time  he  became  of  an  age  to  legalize  business  transactions, 
he  lost  his  father,  who  was  one  of  the  most  energetic  business  men  of 
Dutchess  county.  Thus  he  was  thrust  forward  as  the  head  and  front 
of  a  large  and  arduous  business.  In  all  the  positions  in  which  he  has 
been  placed,  he  has  acted  well  his  part,  and  maintained  an  unsullied 
reputation.  Do  you  ask  for  active  enterprise,  benevolence,  or 
"  sweet-toned  companionship  ?"  In  him  they  all  unite. 

He  takes  an  active  part  in  the  proceedings  of  the  house,  and  is  one 
of  its  most  useful,  able  and  influential  members;  is  chairman  of  the 


37 

committee  on  roads  and  bridges,  also  is  a  member  of  the  sub-com- 
mittee of  the  whole,  two  of  the  most  important  committees  in  the 
House.  The  reader  may  rest  assured  that  he  has  but  little  leisure  at 
his  disposal,  and  it  would  be  difficult  to  find  one  more  faithful,  effi- 
cient and  impartial  in  the  discharge  of  his  official  labors.  He  pos- 
sesses the  unabated  confidence  of  his  constituents,  is  constantly  at  his 
post,  and  is  as  true  to  their  interests  as  the  steel  to  the  star;  he  has 
the  combination  of  the  fort eri  in  re  with  the  suavitor  in  modo  which 
makes  him  much  respected  while  he  is  a  general  favorite. 

He  is  five  feet  ten  inches  in  hight,  good  built,  has  brown  hair, 
gray  blue  eyes,  a  healthy  face,  pleasant  expression  and  is  a  yoxmg 
man  of  good  principles,  pleasing  address,  and  unexceptionable  b.abits. 

ALANSON  KING 

Was  born  in  Collins,  Erie  county,  N.  Y.,  on  the  20th  March,  1816, 
He  was  bred  a  farmer,  and  has  followed  agricultural  pursuits  most  of 
his  life.  He  was  a  Whig  (from  his  boyhood)  until  the  formation  of 
the  Republican  party,  when  he  exerted  the  utmost  of  his  endeavors 
to  secure  the  triumph  of  freedom.  He  is  a  man  highly  esteemed  in 
all  the  relations  of  life. 

Mr.  K.  has  been  supervisor  of  the  town  in  which  he  lives.  Has 
taught  school  off  and  on  for  12  years,  and  has  had  some  experience 
in  mercantile  pursuits,  but  is  now  a  farmer.  In  person  he  is  of  ordi- 
nary stature,  has  dark  hair,  blue  eyes,  a  red,  healthy  face;  he  is  an 
affable,  sociable  and  pleasant  man,  and  has  a  host  of  friends  in  the 
House. 

RICHARD  KIMMEY 

Was  born  in  Bethlehem,  in  Albany  county;  is  a  forwarder;  a  member 
of  the  Dutch  Reformed  church;  is  fifty-five  years  of  age;  of  common 
stature;  has  brown  hair,  blue  eyes  and  the  sun-tan  on  his  cheeks. 
He  is  now  serving  his  second  term  in  the  House;  is  on  the  agricultu- 
ral committee  and  the  committee  on  charitable  and  religious  institu- 
tions. He  is  an  industrious,  faithful  man,  working  earnestly  and 
honestly  for  the  welfare  of  his  friends;  he  is  a  Democrat-. 

V  THOMAS  K1VLEN 

Was  born  in  Ireland,  but  came  to  this  country  in  his  childhood. 
When  sixteen  years  of  age  he  commenced  clerking  in  a  grocery  store 
in  the  city  of  New  York,  afterwards  kept  a  grocery  and  liquor  store 
on  his  own  account;  has  been  a  Democrat  from  his  boyhood;  served 
as  a  police  officer  in  the  city  of  New  York  for  six  years,  resigned  in 
1854,  and  was  appointed  to  an  office  in  the  Marine  Court,  which  office 
he  held  three  years.  He  now  represents  the  Second  District  of  New 
York,  which  embraces  the  Third  and  Sixth  Wards.  Mr.  K.  is  a 
Catholic,  twenty-eight  years  of  age,  five  feet  seven  inches  in  height, 
weighs  160  pounds;  has  blue  eyes  and  brown  hair,  a  large,  pale  face, 
with  high  cheek  bones.  He  has  the  gift  of  tongues  and  speaks  spon- 
taneously. He  is  on  the  committee  on  Indian  affairs.  He  stood  up 
manfully  in  the  House  in  defense  of  servant  girls  who  have  no  redress 
in  some  families  when  they  sue  for  wages,  and  has  made  several  im- 
promptu speeches,  which  were  devoid  of  polish  but  full  of  vigor. 


38 

.**«  WILLIAM  KELLY 

Is  one  of  the  most  influential  Democrats  in  the  state,  indeed  he  has  a 
national  reputation.  He  was  formerly  a  first  class  importing  merchant 
in  the  city  of  New  York  in  partnership  with  his  brother  Robert,  now 
deceased.  He  now  lives  on  his  beautiful  estate  at  Rhinebeck,  where 
his  handsome  residence  is  the  admiration  of  all  beholders,  and  his 
hospitality  the  praise  of  every  guest.  In  the  Senate  he  takes  consid- 
erable interest  in  matters  pertaining  to  corporations  and  banking 
institutions,  being  eminently  practical  and  a  lirst-rate  financier.  He 
is  chairman  of  the  bank  committee,  and  a  member  of  the  committee 
on  roads  and  bridges,  and  performs  his  duties  with  great  efficiency. 
He  is,  a  very  prudent,  watchful  legislator,  prompt  and  dignified,  and 
faithful  at  his  post.  He  is  about  fifty  years  of  age ;  a  lordly  looking 
man,  with  flaxen  hair,  blue  eyes,  pale  complexion.  He  is  stout-built, 
erect  inform,  and  elastic  in  step  He  has  a  princely  fortune.  He 
represents  the  Eighth  Senatorial  District. 

JOHN  T.  LACEY, 

Representing  fhe  Second  District  of  Monroe  county,  is  a  son  of  the 
late  Hon.  Isaac  Lacey,  who  was  twice  a  Representative,  and  a  State 
Senator  two  terms.  He  was  a  large  farmer  in  the  town  of  Chili,  and, 
with  his  noble  companion,  reared  a  family  of  five  sons  and  seven 
daughters ;  and  in  the  minds  of  all  were  deeply  implanted  the  highest 
sense  of  honor  and  a  sincere  regard  for  private  and  public  virtue, 
from  which  none  have  ever  swerved. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  born  at  White  Creek,  Washington 
county,  in  1808.  He  came  with  his  father,  in  1816,  to  his  western 
New  York  home,  at  or  near  which  he  has  resided  until  seven  years 
ago,  when  he  removed  to  Rochester.  He  has  been  town  clerk  two 
years,  supervisor  three  years,  justice  of  the  peace  in  the  town  of 
Chili  ten  years,  county  clerk  three  years,  is  now  an  alderman  of  the 
fourth  ward  in  Rochester,  and  the  choice  of  the  people  of  that  good 
city  for  its  representative  in  the  Legislature. 

He  has  twice  been  on  the  lower  side  of  the  wheel  of  fortune,  but  is 
now  honestly  possessed  of  a  small  but  sufficient  competency  ;  and, 
with  the  priceless  love  of  a  dear  and  noble  companion,  and  a  son  care- 
fully trained  in  the  paths  of  virtue  and  intelligence,  he  seems  content 
to  be  passing  along  the  latter  half  of  the  journey  of  life,  quite  regard- 
less when  or  where  the  end  may  be,  if  honor  and  duty  but  accompany 
him  to  the  close. 

He  has  ever  been  an  ardent  lover  of  justice,  equality,  and  the 
largest  liberty  of  all  men  consistent  with  the  public  welfare — a  true  De- 
mocrat though  called  a  Whig.  He  is  a  hater  of  violence  and  strife,  but 
would,  at  any  time  within  the  last  year,  have  volunteered  to  go  to 
Kansas  with  a  thousand  of  the  freemen  of  the  north,  to  protect  the 
lovers  of  liberty  from  the  cruel  wrongs  of  Pierce,  Douglass  and 
Stringfellow  slavery  propogandists. 

He  was  an  agriculturist  for  many  years,  and  is  proud  of  having, 
either  as  superintendent  or  assistant  laborer,  aided  in  producing  over 
sixty  thousand  bushels  of  wheat,  and  a  vast  amount  of  other  products 


39 

to  feed  and  benefit  mankind,  and  therefor  claims  his  title  to  the  honor 
of  a  worthy  citizen  of  the  great  American  republic. 

Has  never  used  the  ardent  as  a  beverage,  or  the  weed  in  any  shape, 
always  regarding  the  gifts  of  Providence  as  wisely  bestowed  for  such 
moderate  use  as  enlightened  intellect  shall  sanction  and  direct.  Has 
spent  nearly  all  leisure  hours  in  the  realms  of  thought  and  fancy, 
inspired  by  Shakespeare,  Scott,  Byron,  and  other  soul-ennobling 
authors,  and  in  them  even  found  a  sweet  companionship  that  never 
causes  sorrow  or  regret,  but  leads  the  soul  to  heaven,  while  with 
earthly  things  it  enjoys  peace  and  delight. 

.  M.  L1NDLEY  LEE. 

Doctor  Lee  is  one  of  the  leading  men  in  the  Senate,  a  close  thinker 
and  fluent  debater.  He  is  a  most  formidable  opponent,  and  a  most 
desirable  advocate.  He  is  a  man  of  culture  and  spirit,  and  takes  an 
intense  interest  in  the  social,  moral  and  political  reforms  of  the  day. 
Like  most  men  of  his  craft,  he  is  decidedly  opposed  to  whatever 
approximates  to  old  fogyism.  In  person  he  is  tall  and  thin,  with  a 
literary  looking  face,  sharp,  dark  eyes  and  dark  hair.  He  represents 
the  Twentieth  Senatorial  District,  arid  is  on  the  committee  of  claims, 
medical  societies,  and  cities  and  villages.  He  is  not  now  much  en- 
gaged in  the  practice  of  his  profession,  having  the  means  to  rest  upon 
his  oars. 

M.  Lindley  Lee  was  born  in  Minisink,  Orange  county,  of  respecta- 
ble parents  in  moderate  circumstances;  lost  his  father  at  nine  years 
of  age;  spent,  after  ten  years  of  age,  summers  at  work  on  a  farm,  win- 
ters at  school,  until  sixteen  years  of  age.  The  next  four  years  spent 
in  teaching,  fitting  for  college;  graduated  1827,  at  Union  College; 
united  with  Presbyterian  church  at  fifteen  years  of  age ;  studied  medi- 
cine at  Auburn;  graduated  at  the  Medical  College  of  Western  New 
York,  located  at  Fairfield.  Commenced  practice  at  Havana,  Schuyler 
county;  before  the  closb  of  the  year,  changed  to  Fulton,  Oswego 
county,  where  he  now  resides.  Continued  practice  eighteen  years. 
Postmaster  under  Harrison.  Elected  to  Assembly  in  1847,  '48,  and 
to  the  Senate  in  1855.  Loan  commissioner  from  1849  resigned  the 
office. 

EL1AS   W.  LEAVENWORTH 

Is  a  name  familiar  as  a  household  word,  in  the  state  of  New  York, 
a  spirited  citizen,  a  first-rate  lawyer,  a  shrewd  political  manager, 
and  an  able  statesman.  He  needs  not  the  endorsement  of  this  sketch 
to  place  him  in  his  true  position  before  the  American  public.  He 
was  born  December  20,  1803,  in  Columbia  county;  in  1805  moved  to 
Great  Barrington,  Massachusetts;  in  1819  fitted  for  college  under  the 
tuition  of  the  Rev.  Joel  Parker — father  of  Amasa  J.  Parker,  of  Hud- 
son; had  previously  studied  at  G.  B.  In  1820  entered  Williams  College, 
Mass.,  where  he  remained  one  year,  when  he  entered  Yale,  one  year 
in  advance,  and  graduated  in  1824.  After  spending  two  years  in  the 
Litchfield  law  school,  then  under  the  care  of  the  Hon.  James  Gould, 
he  was  admitted  to  practice  in  all  the  courts  of  Connecticut.  In  Nov.. 
1827  he  moved  to  Syracuse  and  entered  into  law  business  with  Alfred 


40 

Northam.  In  1829  B.  Davis  Noxon  removed  from  Onondaga  hill  to 
Syracuse  (the  county  seat  being  soon  to  be  removed  there),  he  entered 
into  partnership  with  him,  which  continued  ten  or  twelve  years, 
when  they  took  in  his  son  George  W.,  and  his  son-in-law  George  F. 
Comstock — now  of  the  Court  of  Appeals.  In  1842  B.  D.  Noxon  and 
George  W.  Noxon  retired  from  the  firm,  and  James  Noxon  entered 
into  the  partnership.  When'Mr.  Comstock  was  appointed  reporter 
for  the  Court  of  Appeals,  the  firm  was  continued  under  the  name  of 
Leavenworth  &  Noxon,  which  remained  until  1850,  when  Mr.  L. 
retired. 

In  1838-9-40,  he  was  elected  each  year  president  of  the  village;  in 
'39  and  '40,  supervisor  of  the  town  of  Salina,  then  including  Syracuse, 
Geddes  and  Liverpool.  In  1846-7  he  was  again  elected  president  of 
the  village.  In  1849  he  was  elected  mayor  of  the  city  of  Syracuse,  in 
the  spring,  and  to  the  Assembly  the  following  fall.  In  1853  he  was 
elected  secretary  of  state,  and  in  1856  again  elected  to  the  Assembly. 

He  is  president  of  the  Central  City  Bank,  trustee  of  the  Orphan 
Asylum,  and  connected  with  other  charitable  institutions.  In  1853 
he  married  Mary  E.  Foreman,  an  amiable  and  accomplished  lady, 
daughter  of  the  Hon.  Joshua  Foreman,  of  Onondaga. 

Mr.  L.  is  a  man  of  extensive  learning  and  exquisite  taste,  a  pro- 
found thinker  and  splendid  debater.  He  is  a  tall,  trim-built  man, 
with  sharp,  smoothly-shaved  face,  dark  hair,  blue  eyes,  Roman 
nose,  and  compressed  lips,  indicating  great  energy  and  decision  of 
character. 

D.   C.  LITTLEJOHN. 

This  gentleman,  Speaker  of  the  present  Assembly,  was  born  in 
Oneida  county,  in  1818.  While  young  he  removed  with  his  parents 
to  Albany,  and,  after  a  complete  academic  course,  in  which  he  ac- 
quitted himself  well,  went  to  Oswego  in  1839,  as  a  clerk  in  the  com-^, 
mission  and  forwarding  business,  becoming  a  partner  with  his  employer 
in  1842. 

He  has  been  twice  Speaker  of  the  Assembly,  and  at  various  times 
has  held  offices  of  trust  and  honor;  but  in  his  case  these  marks  of 
public  confidence,  are  to  be  spoken  of  as  the  means  and  not  the  end. 
He  seems  always  to  have  considered  power  and  place  as  carrying 
serious  responsibilities,  and  not  as  comfortable  resting  spots  for 
seekers  of  ease  at  the  public  expense — as  valuable  only  for  the 
accomplishment  of  some  purpose.  He  is  emphatically  a  man  of  pur- 
pose, and  more,  of  purpose  born  in  honesty.' 

In  youth  he  is  said  to  have  been  a  boy  of  serious  thoughtfulness, 
and,  strengthened  and  tempered  by  experience  and  trial,  his  tone  of 
mind  still  is  candid  and- sober;  while  he  by  no  means  lacks  the  cheer- 
fulness of  disposition  to  be  a  pleasant  companion,  his  prevailing  tem- 
per is  earnestness;  his  forte  is  practicality,  with  a  sufficiency  of 
philosophy  to  rescue  his  style  of  thought  and  expression  from  be- 
coming narrow  by  too  inflexible  directness.  Thus,  in  the  considera- 
tion of  questions  of  state  economy  or  individual  enterprise,  a  simple 
business  man,  like  one  who,  walking  between  high  hedges,  sees  only  the 
strip  of  path  before  him,  considers  the  profit  and  loss  of  the  individual 


41 

case,  and  is  done;  while  the  philosopher,  like  he  whose  way  leads 
through  open  meadows  and  wide  spread  landscapes,  takes  in  not  only 
the  instance  but  the  argument — not  only  that  so  much  money  is  made, 
but  that  the  operation  has  involved  industry  the  parent  of  many 
virtues,  incited  competition  the  life  of  trade,  and  quickened  the  intel- 
ligence of  all  who  have  witnessed  the  successful  enterprise. 

Mr.  Littlejohn,  with  enough  of  mere  unmitigated  arithmetic  in  his 
composition  to  be  a  model  merchant,  has,  at  the  same  time,  the  breadth 
of  rnind  and  scope  of  mental  vision  to  be  a  -statesman.  He  can 
scarcely  be  called  a  representative  man,  he  has  not  sufficient  originality 
for  that,  but  he  has  what  is  better,  the  discipline  of  mind  and  judg- 
ment to  recognize  reason  and  truth,  and  detect  fraud  or  fallacy.  He 
does  not  create  metals,  but  has  an  unfailing  alchemy  to  test  them.  His 
mind  as  well  as  his  temperament  is  such,  that  though  a  most  formidable 
adversary  from  his  quickness  to  see  all  the  truth  in  a  case,  I  doubt  if 
he  has  the  ability  to  invent  a  respectable  sophism.  He  can't  have  a 
vagary,  that  would  be  flatly  against  his  "  constitution."  Without 
intimate  acquaintance  it  is  hard  to  judge  of  the  aesthetic  development 
of  any  man,  but  I  should  presume  order  to  be  with  him  a  fundamental 
condition,  without  which  there  is  "  neither  shape  nor  comeliness."  I 
doubt  if  he  has  thought  of  -poetry  sin1  e  that  insane  period  of  youth 
when  doggerel  is  a  matter  of  course,  or  like  emetics  in  some  forms  of 
sickness,  an  expedient  to  remove  the  bile. 

It  has  been  already  said,  that  with  him  the  acceptance  of  office  is 
never  for  the  empty  honor,  as  honors  go  here,  where  as  Dickens  says 
every  justice  of  the  peace  is  ex-ojficio  "one  of  the  mos.t  eminent  men 
of  our  country."  His  disposition  is,  if  there  be  no  preconceived 
object,  to  cast  about  and  find  what  needs  to  be  done.  So,  his  first 
term  in  the  Legislature  (1853),  was  signalized  by  his  efforts  as  a 
member  of  the  canal  committee,  to  procure  the  amendment  to  the 
^constitution  to  aid  the  speedy  enlargement  of  the  canal;  his  second 
(1854),  by  the  efficient  law  of  that  year,  under  which  contracts  on 
our  p*ublic  works  have  been  let;  and  the  third  (1855  when  he  was 
Speaker),  by  the  distinguished  part  taken  by  mm  in  the  election  of 
Mr.  Seward,  as  United  States  Senator.  All  will  remember  the  wide- 
spread excitement  of  that  period.  Mr.  Littlejohn  was  fiercely  de- 
nounced by  the  Know  Nothings,  then  in  power,  and  finally  banished 
from  the  lodges  (though,  I  believe,  he  was  never  really  a  member  of 
the  order),  with  a  grand  flourish  of  trumpets. 
"  What's  banished  but  set  free 
From  daily  contact  with  the  things  I  loathe." 

The  boldness  of  his  course  at  that  time  startled  timid  men,  even  of 
his  own  party.  His  own  courage  inspired  others,  and  by  carrying 
the  war  at  once  into  the  enemy's  country,  the  Hindoos  were  routed 
and  Mr.  Seward  elected. 

It  was  charged  against  him  that  he  had  misrepresented  his  constitu- 
ency, but  this  met  a  most  unmistakable  refutation  in  the  action  of 
the  people  who,  during  the  height  of  the  excitement,  elected  him  mayor 
of  Osvvego,  by  an  increased  majority.  The  measures  of  this  year  in 
which  he  has  been  interested  are  well  known  through  the  public  prints. 

His  speech  on  the  quarantine  question  was  most  admirably  con- 


42 

ctived,  powerfully  delivered  and  well-timed.  The  debate  had  been 
long  and  tiresome.  As  each  speaker  took  his  seat,  the  cry  was 
"  question,  question."  With  shrewd  calculation,  Mr. 'L.  husbanded 
his  strength  until  the  moment  when,  his  opponents  having  all  been 
heard,  he  could  at  one  effort  answer  every  argument,  and  close  the 
discussion  by  a  summing  up  which  should  conclude  the  whole  case. 
The  House  was  silent  when  he  rose,  and  without  exordium  or  warn- 
ing he  plunged  into  the  middle  of  the  subject,  carrying  every  hearer 
with  him.  The  important  question  was  no  longer  in  danger  of  being 
adjudged  upon  petty  technicalities  nor  irrelevant  reasoning.  In  ten 
sentences  he  had  relieved  it  from  the  misty  uncertainty  in  which 
blundering  orators  had  befogged  themselves,  and  the  whole  matter, 
by  force  of  his  clear  logic  and  good  sense,  stood  revealed,  a  measure 
of  salvation  to  the  great,  helpless  city  that,  like  an  unconscious  child, 
played  with  the  breezes  which  bore  the  vapors  of  death.  There 
could  be  no  answer,  and  the  vote  taken  immediately  after,  showed  by 
its  conclusiveness,  the  effect  of  this  able  effort. 

As  a  presiding  officer  Mr.  S.  is  ready  and  decided,  and  has  a  calm 
dignity  which  no  confusion  or  excitement  can  disturb.  In  speaking 
his  whole  manner  is  changed.  He  besomes  nervous,  impassioned, 
and  even  vehement ;  a  feeble  thought  goes  from  his  lips  clothed  with 
the  added  power  of  forcible  enunciation  and  energetic  delivery. 

His  manners  have  a  genial  suavity  that  never  varies  for  persons 
nor  subject ;  whether  he  addresses  the  great  statesman  or  the  mes- 
senger boy  he  is  always  the  gentleman.  For  him.  occasions  seem  to 
have  no  distinction,  whether  they  be  grand  or  simple,  he  is  always 
self-possessed  and  adequate  to  the  demands  of  the  moment. 

As  a  politician  he  is  not  over  quick  in  decision,  but  once  deter- 
mined, positive  and  open  in  action.  He  has  unquestioned  shrewdness, 
but  with  such  moral  development  as  will  prevent  it  from  degenerating 
into  mere  cunning.  Though  he  is  not  ambitious,  he  prizes  publio 
honor  for  what  it  is  worth,  and  I  expect  yet  to  see  him  in  the  United 
States  Senate. 

Mr.  Littlejohn  was  formerly  a  Whig.  He  is  about  forty  years  of 
age,  is  married,  attends  the  Episcopal  church.  He  is  tall  and  rather 
thin;  has  dark  hair,  large,  black  eyes,  a  pale,  thoughtful  face,  a  fine 
forehead,  and  a  good  head. 

CALVIN  LITTLEFIELD 

Is  thirty-four  years  of  age;  is  five  feet  nine  inches  in  hight,  weighs 
145  pounds;  was  born  in  Ellisburgh,  Jefferson  county;  graduated  at 
Union  College  in  1845;  was  principal  of  the  Union  Academy,  Jeffer- 
son county,  two  years,  Aurora  Academy,  Erie  county,  five  years; 
took  to  the  home  farm  for  health  and  independence;  elected  to  the 
Assembly  of  '54,  re-elected  in  '55,  re-elected  again  in  '56  by  two 
thousand  majority.  Mr.  L.  is  a  Republican,  was  formely  a  Free  Soil 
Whig,  has  always  been  a  prohibitionist;  attends  the  Presbyterian 
church.  Mr.  L.  is  a  modest  man,  who  shrinks  from  public  stare;  he 
is  of  the  nervous  temperament,  has  a  pale  thin  face,  blue  eyes,  brown 
hair  and  a  fine  forehead;  he  is  a  man  of  nice  taste  and  good  judgment 
and  his  word  is  a  bond. 


43 
HARRIS  LEWIS 

Is  one  of  the  most  respectable  and  influential  men  in  the  town  of 
Schuyler.  For  many  years  he  has  been  an  active  magistrate  and  a 
leading  man  in  the  county  of  Herkimer. 

He  was  a  Whig  and  worked  in  that  party  with  great  efficiency, 
until  the  anti-slavery  enterprise  assumed  a  phase  which  united  the 
cream  of  all  political  organizations  into  a  people's  party.  He  has 
been  frequently  a  delegate  to  conventions,  a  referee  in  cases  of  litiga 
tion,  an  executor  in  settling  estates,  &c.'  He  owns  and  occupies  a 
fine  farm,  which  lies  in  the  valley  of  the  Mohawk.  Much 
of  his  time  is  devoted  to  surveying,  a  science  in  which  he  excels.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church;  a  man  of  few  words,  but  possess- 
ing an  extraordinary  share  of  sound,  practical  common  sense.  He  is 
never  troubled  with  poetical  hysterics,  or  enthusiastical  convulsions, 
but  always  cool,  calm  and  civil,  friendly  to  all,  but  obstinately  firm 
in  the  right.  He  is  an  out  and  out  temperance  man,  a  member  of 
almost  every  variety  of  organization,  formed  for  the  suppression  of 
intemperance.  He  is  a  member  of  the  committee  of  sixteen. 

He  is  short  and  stout,  about  five  feet  four  inches  in  bight,  with  full 
breast  and  broad  shoulders  and  straight  back-bone.  He  is  about 
forty-one  years  of  age.  Hair  dark  brown,  eyes  small  and  blue,  face 
full  and  broad,  with  high  cheek  bones.  He  speaks  deliberately,  and 
in  a  low  tone  of  voice,  without  a  word  of  ornament,  and  rarely  rises 
to  speak  in  public.  Like  his  excellent  predecessor  Mr.  Green,  he  will 
not  fail  to  win  the  confidence  of  the  House. 

Mr.  Lewis  was  born  in  Chenango  county,  and  came  to  Schuyler 
when  he  was  twenty  years  of  age.  At  that  time  he  was  poor  and 
almost  penniless;  he  now  owns  the  farm  on  which  he  then  worked 
as  a  hired  hand.  He  is  known  by  the  sobriquet  of  "  previous  question." 
He  is  a  member  of  the  committee  of  sixteen  and  of  the  select  com- 
mittee on  excise. 

RALPH  A.  LOVELAIND 

Represents  the  rough  but  bold  and  liberty-loving  county  of  Essex. 
Born  at  Westport  in  that  county,  nurtured  amid  its  magnificent  hills 
and  inspiring  scenery,  his  principles  are  as  firm  as  the  rocks  of  his 
native  county.  He  was  born  in  1819  ^nd  is  now  37  years  of  age. 
He  commenced  life  without  property,  with  a  family  dependent  on  his 
individual  exertions.  Rallying  under  circumstances  that  would  have 
disheartened  most  young  men,  he  has  acquired  a  competency  which 
insures  him  against  the  accidents  of  age.  Haying  been  extensively 
engaged  in  the  transportation  business  and  being  familiar  with  the 
workings  of  the  Champlain  Canal,  he  was  properly  placed  upon  the 
canal  committee  by  Speaker  Littlejohn,  who  is  quick  to  appreciate 
character,  and,  in  this  instance,  prompt  to  recognize  the  Republican 
tendencies  of  Northern  New  York. 

The  position  of  Mr.  L.,  next  to  Mr.  Leavenworth,  is,  perhaps,  the 
most'  enviable  in  the  House  for  a  new  member.  Mr.  Leavenworth  is 
a  man  of  character  and  of  varied  accomplishments  and  Mr.  Loveland 
will  not  fail  to  make  the  best  use  of  his  association.  While  Mr. 
Loveland  will  make  no  speeches  no  member  will  more  clearly  com- 


44 

prehend  questions  of  business,  nor  will  anyone  excel  him  in  devotion 
to  the  duties  of  his  position. 

Mr.  Loveland  is  a  man  of  medium  size,  dark  complexion,  dark 
hair,  dark  eyes  and  heavy  beard.  He  enjoys  good  health  and  is  in 
full  use  of  every  mental  and  physical  faculty.  Affable  in  all  relations 
he  is  yet  cautious  and  can  never  be  induced  to  support  a  measure, 
which  he  is  not  convinced,  by  examination,  is  correct.  He  is  the  last 
man  for  the  "  third  house  "  to  approach,  and  yet,  if  satisfied  of  the 
justice  of  a  proposition,  it  would  not  matter  from  whom  it  comes. 
As  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church  his  deportment  is  in  accordance 
with  his  profession.  « 

DAVID  B.  LUCKEY 

Represents  Sullivan  county.  .  He  is  an  American;  attends  the  Metho- 
dist church;  is  fifty  years  of  age;  a  farmer;  is  on  the  committee  of 
grievances;  he  is  a  quiet,  stay-at-home  sort  of  a  man,  who  minds  his 
own  business;  he  is  of  common  stature,  has  dark  brown  hair,  gray 
blue  eyes,  a  weather-tanned  face  and  an  honest  hand  hardened  by 
labor.  In  social  intercourse  he  is  unreserved  and  confiding. 

THOMAS  MULLIGAN 

Emigrated  to  this  country  when  quite  young,  his  parents  having  died 
when  he  was  only  seven  years  old;  he  obtained  his  education  in  his 
native  country,  constantly  devoting  his  time  to  that  study,  but  being 
ambitious,  like  all  others  who  wish  to  seek  for  more  information  than 
he  thought  could  be  afforded  to  him  in  his  guardian's  means,  although 
possessed  of  more  than  the  ordinary  calibre  of  his  school-mates;  he 
wished  to  be  on  the  onward  march  for  the  progressive  age.  Arriving 
on  the  shores  of  his  adopted  country,  he  settled  down  in  the  city  of 
Brooklyn,  then  a  village,  obtained  a  clerkship  in  the  glass  factory,  and 
from  the  stipend  he  received  was  enabled  to  yet  continue  his  study, 
which  he  so  much  desired,  by  using  his  leisure  hours  in  attending 
night  school.  When  at  the  age  of  not  quite  twenty,  he  engaged  in 
the  grocery  business  on  his  own  account,  and  from  his  uniform  habits 
and  his  honest  motives  of  principles  and  industry,  he  obtained  all  the 
confidence  of  the  community,  which  was  the  means  of  leading  to  a 
successful  business.  After  the  lapse  of  eighteen  years  he  abandoned 
that  business  and  engaged  in  a  more  lucrative  one,  in  the  flour  and 
feed  business.  During  his  term  he  was  a  strong  D«mocrat  of  the 
Jackson  and  Jefferson  principles,  and  advocated  its  principles  pub- 
licly. He  was  sought  by  his  party  to  take  the  office  of  collector  of 
his  city,  he  was  elected;  again  sought  for  alderman  and  elected;  again 
for  supervisor,  and  now  we  find  him  in  the  Legislature  of  the  state 
of  New  York.  He  is  forty-two  years  of  age;  has  been  very  success- 
ful in  his  business;  has  accumulated  considerable  property  in  the  city, 
and  has  always  taken  a  deep  interest  in  its  welfare.  Mr.  M.  is  a 
good-looking  man,  with  black  curly  hair,  blue  eyes  and  red  cheeks, 
he  is  rather  above  the  medium  stature. 

DANIEL  MAHEN. 

There  are  few  Representatives  in  the  Assembly  who  occupy  a  sim- 
ilar position  with  Mr.  Mahen.  His  most  distinguished  effort  was 
brought  forth  by  Mr.  Varnuin  of  New  York,  who  endeavored  to  press 


45 

through  his  registry  law,  at  a  moment  when  the  absence  of  all  opposers 
promised  it  an  unobstructed  passage.  But  this  champion  of  Demo- 
cracy rose  in  the  true  dignity  of  his  position,  and  with  a  defiant  tone 
and  crushing  argument  arrested  the  bill.  He  presented  to  the  House 
a  ballot-box,  crying  as  he  lifted  it  up:  "Here  is  and  ever  shall  be  the 
receptacle  of  the  votes  of  my  people !  "  Mr.  Mahen  occupied  a  noted 
position  also  in  the  recent  caucus  Democratic  Senatorial  nomination. 
The  Wood  party  had  calculated  upon  his  generalship  in  their  behalf; 
some  of  his  constituents  were  sent  to  Albany  to  co-operate  with  him 
in  favor  of  their  distinguished  champion.  But  when  the  hour  of  test 
arrived,  Mr.  Mahen,  with  his  characteric  independence,  rose  in  con- 
flict with  the  young  champion  of  Democracy,  and  besought  his  city 
colleagues  to  unite  with  him  in  crushing  fogyism  and  erecting  the 
banner  of  Young  America.  Mr.  Mahen  is  young  and  ambitious,  and 
possesses  a  bold  confidence  which  guarantees  to  his  friends  a  bright 
future,  and  to  himself  a  renowned  and  respected  old  age. 

A  gentleman  from  New  York  furnished  us  with  the  above.  The 
following  facts  we  obtained  from  another  source. 

Mr.  Mahen's  parents  came  from  Ireland  in  1818,  and  settled  in 
Boston.  After  a  few  years  they  removed  to  the  city  of  New  York, 
where,  in  1826,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born.  In  1833  he  was 
compelled  to  earn  his  living,  which  he  did  by  selling  newspapers,  the 
Sun.  Herald,  Transcript,  Sunday  Atl'ts.  &c.  When  he  was  thirteen 
years  of  age  he  was  apprenticed  to  the  United  States  Navy;  after  two 
years'  experience  he  ran  away.  When  quite  a  young  man  he  obtained 
a  situation  in  the  Custom  House — a  position  he  has  held  for  some 
time.  Mr.  Mahen  is  a  very  small  man,  has  brown  hair,  blue  eyes, 
and  a  sharp  physiognomy.  He  speaks  with  his  voice  pitched  at  a 
high  key,  and  can  speak  one  or  twenty-four  hours,  just  as  the  case 
demands.  He  is  now  serving  his  second  term  in  the  Assembly. 

PATRICK  McFARLAN 

Has  the  reputation  of  being  one  of  the  most  civil  and  agreeable  men 
in  the  House;  he  is  quiet,  seldom  rising  in  his  seat  unless  it  be  to  an- 
nounce the  name  of  a  bill.  He  is  upwards  of  fifty  years  of  age, 
rather  under  the  medium  hight,  wears  a  pleasant  face;  he  is  indepen- 
dent in  his  circumstances  as  well  as  in  his  principles.  He  is  on  the 
committee  on  the  erection  and  division  of  towns  and  counties.  • 

JOHN  J.  McPHERSON 

Was  born  in  Le  Roy,  Genesee  county,  in  the  year  1810,  consequently 
he  is  forty-six  years  of  age,  although  he  looks  ten  years  younger;  he 
was  brought  up  a  farmer,  but  for  the  last  eight  years  he  has  led  a 
retired  life,  having  acquired  a  comfortable  competency;  he  was  for- 
merly a  Whig,  but  is  now  a  staunch  Republican;  he  has  been  siiper- 
visor  of  the  town  in  which  he  lives,  and  also  justice  of  the  peace;  he 
was  a  candidate. for  the  Assembly  two  years  ago.  but  was  defeated  by 
the  Americans;  he  occupies  a  good  position  in  the  House,  and  has  as 
much  influence  as  half  a  dozen  noisy  members  can  command;'  he  is- 
eminently  practical,  has  a  sound,  discriminating  mind  and  an,  unim~ 


46 

peachable  character;  he  is  on  the  committee  of  roads  and  bridges;  is 
a  tall,  finely  formed  man,  has  dark  hair  and  whiskers,  grayish-blue 
eyes,  a  bland  countenance  and  gentlemanly  address. 

JOHN  MILLER. 

Mr.  Miller  was  born  in  Columbia  county;  follows  the  plow;  is  a 
Democrat;  has  been  supervisor  of  the  town  in  which  he  lives;  attends 
the  Methodist  church.  He  is  one  of  those  practical  men  whose  voice 
and  vote  on  practical  and  every-day  business  matters  is  worth  more 
than  the  eloquence  and  erudition  of  men  who  are  merely  professional. 
Mr.  M.  is  43  years  of  age;  a  large,  heavy,  muscular  man,  with  a 
healthy  face,  dark  hair,  full  face  and  eagle  nose;  he  is  always  on 
hand  and  ever  attentive  to  business. 

SAMUEL  J.  MOTT 

Is  an  elderly  gentleman;  sits  in  what  is  termed  sleepy  hollow,  but  is 
wide  awake  to  the  interests  of  those  whose  servant  he  is.  He  represents 
the  second  district  of  Saratoga  county;  is  on  the  committee  of  state 
charitable  institutions.  Mr.  M.  is  fifty-five  years  of  age;  is  a  farmer;- 
attends  the  Presbyterian  church;  a  temperance  man;  was  identified  in 
early  life  with  the  anti-masonic  movement.  In  person,  is  short, 
thick  set,  has  blue  eyes,  gray  hair;  is  a  modest  gentleman  of  consi- 
derable influence. 

CHARLES  H.  MEAD 

Represents  the  Fourth  District  of  Onondaga;  is  a  Republican;  was 
formerly  a  Democrat;  is  on  the  salt  committee;  is  forty-five  years  of 
age;  married;  attends  the  Baptist  church;  he  is  of  the  common  sta- 
ture, rather  reserved  in  his  manner;  is  cautious  and  deliberative;  has 
brown  hair,  light  eyes,  and  a  face  closely  shaved.  Report  says  he  is 
a  very  substantial  citizen,  and  fair  Legislator. 

EDWARD  M.  MADDEN. 

Senator  Madden  represents  the  county  of  Orange,  where  he  was 
born,  has  always  lived,  and  where  he  will  probably  die,  unless  politi- 
cal events  so  shape  themselves  that  his  unquenchable  love  of  liberty, 
and  intense  hatred  of  slavery  should  induce  him  to  leave  his  Lares  and 
Penates  and  migrate  to  Kansas.  Like  many  other  men  of  mark,  he 
is  wholly  the  artificer  of  his  own  fortune.  He  had  no  advantages  of 
early  education.  From  the  age  of  9  to  14  he  commenced  fitting  him- 
self for  the  great  battle  of  life  as  an  operative  in  a  cotton  factory; 
thence  he  pursued  his  studies  as  an  apprentice  in  a  tin  shop,  graduat- 
ed in  a  hardware  store,  and  took  his  final  degree  as  a  retail  merchant 
at  Middletown,  where  he  now  has  a  very  extensive  saw  factory. 
Nature,  however,  has  done  much  for  him.  Gifted  with  a  fine  consti- 
tution, his  iron  will,  unbending  energy,  indomitable  perseverance,  and 
unflagging  industry,  have  combined  to  make  him  a  hard  student  and 
a  well  read  man.  His  mind  is  well  stored  with  practical  knowledge 
and  few  men  are  so  thoroughly  posted  in  the  political  history  of  our 
'state  or  country.  There  is  no  man  in  the  Senate  of  greater  pluck  or 


47 

nerve.  Governed  in  all  his  actions  by  fixed  principles.^nothing  ever 
turns  him  from  his  purpose,  when  his  course  is  once  marked  out. 
His  sterling  integrity  and  incorruptible  honesty  are  as  universally 
conceded  as  the  chastity  of  Caesar's  wife.  The  state  never  had  a 
more  watchful  guardian  over  its  interests.  He  is  extremely  sensitive 
an  ;  jealous  about  all  inroads  upon  the  treasury — more  so  than  if  it 
were  his  own  private  purse.  His  active  business  habits  make  him 
invaluable  on  committees,  and  wo  betide  the  unlucky  wight  who 
comes  before  him  with  a  doubtful  claim.  He  participates  freely  in 
all  debates,  dissecting  the  subtleties  and  sophistries  of  lawyers,  with 
the  sharp  scalpel  of  common  sense.  He  is  a  nervous,  rapid  speaker, 
and  no  man  in  the  Senate  is  more  earnest,  energetic,  forcible  or  con- 
vincing. He  goes  in  a  straight  geometrical  line  right  to  the  point, 
without  any  flowers  of  rhetoric,  but  with  a  directness  that  there  is  no 
mistaking.  He  uses  no  pearls  of  poetry  or  flights  of  fancy,  but 
deals  altogether  in  the  purest  and  strongest  Anglo-Saxon.  His  hard 
facts  and  statistics,  compacted  as  granite,  and  his  irresistible  logic, 
need  no  ornamentation,  as  the  friends  of  "  Chemung  Locks  "  and  Jerry 
O'Briei^orrowfully  testify.  He  always  votes  in  accordance  with  his 
convictions.  No  motives  of  policy,  expediency  or  interest;  no  regard  for 
individuals  or  localities;  no  personal  friendships,  can  make  him 
swerve  one  hair's  breadth  from,  his  line  of  duty.  He  engages  in  no 
"  log-rolling;"  never  aiding  any  project  of  doubtful  propriety  to  secure 
assistance  in  ineasures  of  real  merit.  There  is  no  member  of  the 
legislature  more  disinterested;  his  only  avowed  object  in  coming  to 
the  Senate,  having  been  to  aid  in  the  election  of  some  such  repre- 
sentative man  as  Preston  King  as  U.  S.  Senator,  and  to  help  establish 
a  sound  state  policy — to  be  one  of  those  not  only  honest  themselves, 
but  who  would  not  allow  party  friends  to  steal,  by  winking  at  schemes 
of  public  plunder,  as  has  been  too  much  the  practice  at  Albany.  He 
is  extremely  affable,  sociable  and  pleasing,  in  his  disposition  and 
habits.  He  is  a  man  in  the  very  prime  of  life  j( 38),  of  medium  size, 
sharp  blue  eyes,  dark  hair,  heavy  beard,  and  wears  on  his  face  an 
expression  of  earnest  thought. 

GEORGE  MOTT. 

If  the  Democracy  of  New  York  have  a  true  representative  in  the 
present  Legislature,  George  Mott,  of  Franklin  county,  is  that  man. 
Conservative  by  nature  in  all  his  views  and  associations,  he  looks 
upon  all  reformatory  measures  with  a  suspicious  eye,  and  is  "  death" 
on  all  the  "  isms  "  of  the  day.  He  loves  the  "  old  order  "  of  things, 
and  regards  the  questions  of  the  day,  the  most  of  them,  as  out  of 
place,  and  forced  upon  the  public  mind  by  designing  politicians,  for 
other  than  pure  and  patriotic  purposes.  Mr.  Mott  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  but  far  behind  the  prevailing  sentiment 
of  a  portion  of  that  body,  he  discards  their  extreme  views  of  the 
slavery  question,  and  approves  of  the  decision  of  the  General  Confer- 
ence of  1856,  on  the  slavery  question.  He  was  a  warm  supporter  of 
Mr.  Buchanan  during  the  late  campaign,  and  was  elected  to  the  legisla-* 
ture  by  some  two  hundred  and  fifty  majority. 


48 

Mr.  Mott  is  of  medium  hight,  rather  stout  built,  with  dark  gray 
hair,  and  an  intelligent  and  pleasant  countenance. 

He  is  a  man  of  strong  natural  abilities,  firm  and  decided,  like  all 
conservatives,  in  his  positions,  and  highly  respected  by  his  fellow 
members  for  his  sterling  integrity. 

Mr.  Mott  was  born  at  Alburgh,  Vt.,  January  24th,  1806,  and  is 
therefore  fifty-one  years  old. 

JOSHUA  MERSEREAU, 

A  French  name,  and  the  man  who  has  it  carries  a  countenance  indi- 
cative of  French  origin;  the  careful  arrangement  of  the  hair,  the  nice 
attention  to  matters  of  dress,  the  graceful  gesture  and  the  polite  man- 
ner, all  go  to  confirm  our  opinion  that  Mr.  M.  has  Norman  blood  in 
his  veins.  Mr.  M.  represents  Richmond  county;  is  on  the  committee 
of  colleges,  academies  and  common  schools;  is  a  staunch,  adamantine 
Democrat  of  the  old  school;  he  attends  the  Dutch  Reformed  church; 
is  naturally  conservative  and  opposed  to  what  he  terms  the 
isms  of  the  day.  In  his  own  county  he  has  been  frequently 
honored  by  his  neighbors,  having  been  supervisor  one  year,  ana  county 
clerk  nine  years  in  succession.  Mr.  M.  is  about  forty  years'  of  age; 
is  a  gentleman  of  leisure  and  fortune;  a  married  man;  has  dark  hair, 
dark  brown  eyes;  wears  his  whiskers  a  la  militaire. 

NICHOLAS  W.  MOONEY 

Is  from  the  Fourteenth  Ward — the  Twelfth  Assembly  District — of 
the  city  of  New  York.  He  was  born  in  the  city  of  New  York,  in 
1825,  which  fact  makes  him  thirty-two  years  of  age.  He  is  a  cart- 
man,  an  occupation  he  has  followed  since  his  majority.  He  is  now 
and  always  has  been  a  Democrat  (a  Mayor  Wood  man).  He  was 
brought  up  in  the  Catholic  faith;  was  a  candidate  for  Assemblyman 
two  years  ago,  but  was  defeated  with  the  "  hard'  shell  "  ticket.  He 
has  been  member  of  the  fire  department  for  ten  years  and  is  now 
foreman  of  Hose  Company  No.  3. 

Mr.  Mooney  is  a  short,  stout  man,  with  around  head,  thick  neck, 
full,  fat  face'and  broad  chest;  he  has  brown  hair  and  dark  eyes.  He 
never  speaks  in  public,  but  looks  well  after  the  interest  of  his  con- 
stituents. 

JAMES  NOXON. 

Senator  Noxon  is  the  youngest  looking  man  in  the  Senate  and  is 
justly  considered  a  leading  member  of  that  body.  He  was  born  in 
1818,  graduated  at  Union  College  in  1838,  studied  one  year  in  the 
New  Haven  Law  School,  and  was  admitted  to  the  practice  of  law  in 
1841,  in  the  city  of  Syracuse;  has  been  in  partnership  with  Mr.  Lea- 
venworth,  now  of  the  House,  and  Judge  Comstock,  now  of  the  Court 
of  Appeals,  and  his, father,  a  man  of  national  fame  as  a  leading  law- 
yer. Senator  N.  was  originally  a  Whig,  but  is  now  a  Republican;  he 
represents  the  Twenty-second  Senatorial  District;  is  chairman  of  the 
judiciary  committee  and  a  member  of  the  select  committee  on  the 
Trinity  church  affairs.  Mr.  N.  is  a  sound  lawyer,  an  able  statesman 


49 

and  an  eloquent  debater;  he  attends  the  Dutch  Reformed  church;  is 
married.  He  is  of  small  stature,  has  light  hair,  large  blue  eyes  and 
a  pale  face;  he  is  a  sociable,  companionable,  free-hearted  man,  with 
a  multitude  of  friends. 

GEORGE  S.  NICHOLS 

Represents  the  Tenth  Senatorial  District,  having  been  sent  there  by 
an  American  constituency.  Sometime  since  he  went  to  California, 
and  returned  with  his  pockets  filled  with  rocks.  He  is  a  farmer, 
about  thirty-seven  years  of  age,  rather  under  the  common  stature,  is 
of  the  nervous  temperament,  has  auburn  hair  and  blue  eyes,  seldom 
speaks  unless  it  be  to  introduce  a. bill,  and  then  a  few  words  brings 
him  to  his  seat.  He  is  on  the  insurance  committee;  and  is  highly 
respected  in  all  the  relations  of  life.  His  place  of  residence  is 
Athens,  Greene  county. 

BENSON  OWEN 

Was  born  in  Homer,  Cortland  county,  N.  Y.,  March  10th,  1807.  His 
father,  Lewis  S.  Owen,  was  a  physician,  who  resided  in  that  town 
about  50  years.  Mr.  Owen  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  this  state  in  1830;  practiced  his  profession  in  Allegany 
county  some  three  or  four  years,  when  he  removed  with /his  family 
to  the  state  of  Ohio,  where  he  resided  until  1844,  when  he  moved  to 
Seneca  Falls  and  engaged  in  the  foundry  and  machine  business.  He 
has  not  pursued  his  profession  as  a  business  since  his  return  to  this 
state;  was  collector  of  tolls  on  the  Cayuga  and  Seneca  Canal  at 
Seneca  Falls  during  1854  and  1855. 

He^ias  a  family,  consisting  of  a  wife  and  one  child.  In  person  he 
is  five  feet  ;ten  inches  in  hight,  weighs  about  130  pounds.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Republican  party  and  belongs  to  the  anti-slavery  wing 
of  the  old  Whig  party;  is  not  a  member  but  a  regular  attendant  and 
supporter  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  He  is  a  man  of  sound  mind 
and  acute  reasoning  power;  makes  a  sound  and  logical  speech.  Is  a 
tall,  thin  man,  with  dark  hair,  greyish  whiskers,  very  bright  brown 
eyes,  dresses  neatly,  is  one  of  the  first  men  in  the  House,  a  safe 
counsellor  on  Legislative  matters.  Mr.  0.  seems  at  home  on  any 
question,  showing  a  mind  well  stored  with  information  on  general 
subjects.  He  is  on  the  committee  of  ways  and  means. 

J.  J.  OWEN 

Is  a  practical  printer — followed  the  "  art  preservative  of  all  arts  "  for 
nine  years,  picking  up  type  in  Auburn,  Rochester,  New  York,  Havana, 
and  elsewhere.  In  the  spring  of  1850  he  started  for  California, 
remained  two  months  in  New  Granada,  and  then  returned  home.  In 
the  fall  of  '51  he  visited  California,  and  was  employed  as  messenger 
for  Gregory's  Express,  on  the  Sacramento  river,  for  about  twelve 
months,  when  he  entered  the  service  of  Wells,  Fargo  &  Co.,  as  mes- 
senger in  the  Golden  state. 

Having  gratified  his  desire  to  travel  in  our  El  Dorado,  he  returned 
to  his  native  state,  and  purchased  a  farm  in  Cayuga  county,  where  he 
4 


now  lives.  He  has  been  School  Superintendent — was  elected  to  the 
Assembly  on  the  Republican  ticket,  obtaining  upwards  of  nine  hun- 
dred majority  over  the  fusion  candidate.  He  is  a  tall,  straight,  well- 
formed  man,  of  the  sanguine  nervous  temperament — has  light  hair, 
blue  eyes,  fair  complexion,  and  wears  a  golden  moustache — perhaps 
it  grew  on  his  face  in  California. 

He  is  an  amiable,  modest  man,  of  few  words  and  quiet  demeanor. 
He  was  formerly  a  Free  Soil  Democrat;  he  does  not  belong  to  any 
church,  but  entertains  respect  for  the  religious  views  of  all  honest 
men.  He  is  friendly  to  the  temperance  enterprise ;  is  a  voting  mem- 
ber, but  can  speak  when  duty  demands  his  services  in  that  capacity. 
His/0?'fe  is  with  the  pen.  He  has  had  considerable  experience  as  a 
newspaper  writer  and  correspondent,  and  is  regarded  by  his  friends 
as  clear  and  vigorous  in  the  expression  of  his  views  on  paper.  He  is 
29  years  of  age. 

MORACE  P.  PERRY 

Was  born  in  the  town  of  Moores,  Clinton  county,  in  the  year  1811; 
now  resides  in  the  town  of  Champlain  in  the  above  county.  Was  a 
Democrat  up  to  about  1834,  when  a  crisis  arose  at  the  county  seat, 
which  determined  his  action  in  the  future;  being  refused  with  many 
other  citizens,  the  use  of  the  county  buildings  or  any  other  House  to 
meet  to  discuss  the  subject  of  free  soil,  free  speech  and  free  men,  were 
driven  out  by  the  citizens  of  Plattsburgh  and  obliged  to  meet  in  an 
adjoining  town,  since  which  time  has  been  an  unswerving  friend  of 
Republican  principles;  being  in  a  minority  in  the  county,  never  has 
held  a  county  office  until  the  present;  is  strong  in  favor  of  prohibi- 
tion ;  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Mr.  P.  is  a  short,  thick-set  man  eff  the  {nervous  billious  tempera- 
ment; has  dark  hair,  large  features  and  herculean  limbs;  he  is  a 
warm-hearted  man,  and  his  greeting  is  very  cordial;  he  is  on  the 
state  prison  committee. 

JOSEPH  H.  PETTY 

Represents  the  Fourth  Senatorial  District,  having  been  sent  to  the 
Senate  by  Know  Nothings;  he  is  seldom  in  his  seat;  we  have  no  per- 
sonal acquaintance  with  him,  but  understand  he  is  a  broker;  he  has 
the  reputation  of  being  a  clever  fellow;  he  is  a  good  parliamentarian; 
has  been  in  the  Assembly  and  has  received  other  proofs  of  public  con- 
fidence. He  rarely  participates  in  debate;  he  has  a  round  head,  red 
face,  blue  eyes  and  auburn  hair.  He  is  on  the  committee  on  banks, 
expiring  laws,  cities  and  villages,  Kansas,  &c. 

HENRY  A.  PRENDERGAST 

Was  born  in  the  town  of  Ripley  in  Chautauque  County,  New  York, 
in  the  year  1821.  His  ancestors  were  among  the  earliest  settlers  of 
Western  New  York.  As  early  as  1816  we  find  a  member  of  the  family 
in  the  halls  of  legislation  from  the  then  county  of  Niagara,  which 
county  then  embraced  territory  out  of  which  three  or  four  new  coun- 
ties have  since  been  made. 


51 

Having  settled  at  an  early  period  and  turning  their  attention  to 
agriculture,  they  became  the  possessors  of  some  of  the  finest  lands  in 
the  cotmty  and  have  been  considered  among  the  most  wealthy  and 
public  spirited  farmers  in  the  west. 

On  the  paternal  side  Mr.  Prendergast  is  descended  from  Irish  stock 
and  in  the  early  anti-rent  difficulties  on  Philip's  patent  in  Duchess 
County  we  find  the  Historical  Collections  of  the  State  mentioning 
Prendergast  as  the  "  big  thunder  "  of  that  time.  He  was  a  native 
of  Tiperary  in  Ireland  and  the  great  grandfather  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch. 

On  the  maternal  side  his  ancestors  were  real  Vermonters  and  were 
among  those  who  bore  arms  in  the  Revolution  and  knew  well  how  to 
prize  their  dear  bought  liberties.  Capt.  Abell,  the  great  grandfather, 
was  in  most  of  the  severest  battles  of  the  Revolution  and  often  has  been 
honorably  mentioned  in  history. 

Mr.  Prendergast  entered  Union  College  in  the  fall  of  1838  and 
graduated  in  1842.  After  finishing  his  collegiate  course  he  entered 
the  law  office  of  D.  Mann,  Esq.,  of  Westfield,  New  York,  but  before 
finishing  his  studies,  his  health  becoming  impaired,  he  retired  to  the 
healthy  employment  of  the  farm,  where  for  a  time  he  combined  farm- 
ing, sporting,  literature  arid  a  restoration  of  health.  It  was  amid 
these  various  avocations  that  he  attended  to  another  important  mat- 
ter in  life,  matrimony.  He  then  retired  to  a  farm  of  his  own  in  his 
native  town  and  during  the  time  he  has  been  engaged  in  tilling  the 
soil,  has  contributed  largely  to  the  improvement  of  the  stock  of  his 
county,  having  imported  some  of  the  finest  stock  that  could  be  ob- 
tained in  England.  He  has  refused  to  enter  public  life  until  the  polit- 
ics of  his  county  were  changed  by  the  sudden  springing  into  existence 
of  the  American  party.  Early  imbued  with  the  doctrines  of  the  Anti- 
Masonic  party  in  this  state,  of  which  his  ancestors  were  among  the 
most  zealous  supporters,  and  hence  feeling  it  his  duty  to  oppose  to  the 
extent  of  his  ability  the  prescriptive  doctrines  of  the  new  party.  In 
fall  of  1855  he  was  induced  to  accept  the  nomination  for  the  Assembly 
with  about  one  thousand  American  majority  in  his  district  against  him; 
he  was  opposed  by  two  of  the  strongest  men  of  the  opposite  parties, 
but  was  elected  by  about  450  majority.  He  was  the  candidate  of  the 
new  Republican  party  for  Speaker,  and  in  the  fall  of  1856  was  nomi- 
nated by  the  party  in  his  district  by  acclamation  and  elected  by  over 
2000  majority. 

Mr.  Prendergast  is  premier  of  the  house,  being  chairman  of  the 
committee  of  ways  and  means.  He  is  a  man  of  fine  intellect,  a  good 
speaker  and  a  thorough  business  man ;  in  person  he  is  tall  (nearly  six 
feet),  of  good  mould,  of  the  nervous  sanguine  temperament,  has  brown 
hair,  blue  eyes  and  pale  features;  he  is  very  frank  and  genial  and  is 
honored  and  respected  by  all  who  know  him. 

ZOROASTER  PAUL 

Represents  the  Second  District  of  Ontario  county;  is  a  Republican, 
was  formerly  a  Democrat.  The  present  is  his  first  term  in  the 
House.  He  is  now  town  supervisor;  is  a  native  of  Washington 


S2 

county,  was  born  in  1811;  graduated  at  Castleton  Medical  College  in 
1834;  commenced  practice  in  Erie  county  the  following  year;  removed 
in  '45  to  Honeoye,  where  he  now  lives  and  has  a  good  pracjfc-e.  He 
stands  high  as  an  accoucheur  and  is  very  successful  in  the  treatment 
of  diseases. 

He  was  elected  in  an  American  district,  by  a  majority  of  nearly 
one  thousand  over  the  highest  successful  candidate. 

Dr.  Paul  is  a  little  under  the  medium  stature,  has  blue  eyes,  hair 
turning  gray  prematurely,  has  a  bold  forehead  and  a  face  indicating 
earnest  thought  and  honesty  of  purpose. 

He  is  chairman  of  the  committee  on  medical  colleges,  societies  and 
schools.  .  ,  '  'i,  ; 

Was  formerly  a  Democrat;  became  a  FreeSotler  in  1848,  voted  for 
Hale  in  1852;  was  one  of  the  first  and  foremost  in  his  county  in  the 
formation  and  organization  of  the  Republican  party;  was  elected 
supervisor  of  his  town  last  spring,  .by  a  large  majority  over  the  com- 
bined forces  of  the  Democrats  and  Americans.  A  man  of  liberal 
views  in  religious  as  well  as  in  political  matters.  Is  a  man  of  untir- 
ing energy  and  perseverance;  asks  nothing  except  what  is  right,  will 
submit  to  nothing  wrong.  Is  45  years  old,  5  feet  6  inches  in  hight, 
weighs  145  pounds.  Was  married  in  1836  to  Miss  Susan  Taber,  of 
Wales,  Erie  county;  his  family  consists  of  one  son  and  one  daughter, 
Is  a  self-made  man. 


THEODORE  M.  POMEROY. 

H.  Clarence  Page,  the  talented  and  piquant  Albany  correspondent 
of  the  New  York  Sun,  writing  under  his  well  known  signature  "Harry 
Halcyon,"  thus  sketches  this  Representative  in  the  Assembly.  "Mr. 
Pomeroy  is  a  native  of  Cayuga  county,  having  been  born  in  the  town 
of  Cayuga,  and  is  now  about  thirty  years  of  age.  He  is  a  lawyer  by 
profession;  in  early  life  removed  to  the  city  of  Auburn,  in  his  native 
county,  where  in  1847  he  was  elected  city  clerk.  In  1850  he  was 
elected  district  attorney  of  the  county,  to  which  position  he  was 
re-elected  in  1853.  In  1850,  when  the  Whig  state  ticket  was  beaten 
in  his  county  by  250  majority,  he  was  elected  by  79  majority,  and  at 
the  second  contest  for  that  office  (in  1853)  he  was  re-elected  by  500 
majority — clearly  showing  that  no  other  proof  is  necessary  of  his 
popularity  at  home.  Last  fall  (1856)  he  was  nominated  for  the 
Assembly  and  elected  by  1000  majority  over  the  combined  opposition. 

Mr.  Pomeroy  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  a  young  man  of  promise, 
and  if  we  are  to  judge  his  future  by  his  past,  he  may  well  be  encour- 
aged to  persevere.  Fate  deals  strangely  with  us  all,  and  often  the 
true  and  deserving  are  the  subjects  of  her  caprices,  and  must,  sooner 
or  later,  bend  to  the  decrees  of  stern  destiny.  We  are  too  happy  to 
say,  however,  that  this  is  not  the  case  in  the  instance  before  us;  and 
not  one  of  the  honors  conferred  upon  Mr.  Pomeroy  but  what  has 
been  deserved  and  appreciated,  and  but  what  he  has  "  borne  them 
bravely."  Mr.  P.  has  quite  a  youthful  appearance,  is  of  sanguine 


53 

temperament,  medium  stature,  and  is  a  forcible  speaker  and  a  close 
reasoner.  hi  the  debates  in  the  House,  in  which  he  has  taken  part, 
he  has  already  won  a  reputation  and  prominence  that^  commands  the 
respect  and  consideration  of  his  legislative  associates,  and  he  has  all 
the  qualities  that  lead  to  personal  popularity,  and  all  the  abilities 
necessary  to  defend  and  vindicate  any  position  he  may  assume  on 
questions  coming  up  before  the  people  for  their  decision. 

A.  W.  PECK 

Was  born  in.  the  town  of  Brownsville,  Jefferson  County,  New  York, 
within  a  few  miles  of  his  present  place  of  residence,  is  a  farmer  and 
well  to  do  in  the  world.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  commenced 
teaching  school,  taught  winters  and  worked  on  a  farm  summers,  so 
alternating  from  the  plow  to  the  pen  until  he  was  twenty-five  years 
of  age.  Since  that  time  he  has  devoted  his  attention  principally  to 
agriculture;  he  has  been  towntjuperintendent  of  shools.was  formerly 
an  old  line  Whig,  is  now  a  Republican.  He  is  a  modest,  quiet,  intel- 
ligent man,  about  thirty-two  years  of  age,  of  small  stature,  has  brown 
hair,  dark  eyes,  and  a  round,  ruddy  countenance.  He  belongs  to  the 
class  of  good  fellows;  is  on  the  committee  on  claims  and  on  medical 
societies  and  colleges. 

ENOS  PUFFER 

Is  a  giant  in  stature,  a  man  of  great  muscular  power,  with  a  broad 
chest  and  sledge-hammer  arm  and  fist,  and  woe  be  unto  those,  who 
provoke  his  blows,  for  he  has  been  a  blacksmith  and  knows  how  to 
strike.  He  worked  at  the  forge  until  he  was  twenty-five  years  of  age 
and  then  quit  the  anvil  for  the  pulpit,  and  commenced  preaching  the 
Gospel  under  the  auspices  of  the  Episcopal  Methodist  Conference  in 
Wyoming  and  Oneida  counties,  where  he  labored  with  great  ac- 
ceptance. He  represents  the  county  of  Broome  and  is  chairman  of 
the  committee  on  state  charitable  institutions.  He  is  upwards  of  six 
feet  tall  and  well  proportioned,  has  dark  hair,  blue  eyes,  a  florid  face, 
and  a  free,  generous  heart.  He  is  a  jovial  and  sociable  man. 

JOHN  E.  PATTERSON 

Is  a  tall  silvery  haired  man,  with  blue  eyes  and  intelligent  countenance. 
He  represents  the  Twenty-seventh  Senatorial  District;  is  chairman 
of  the  committee  on  grievances,  on  the  poor  committee  and  the  com- 
mittee on  agricultural  affairs.  He  is  fifty-six  years  of  age,  an  at- 
torney, attends  the  Presbyterian  church;  a  very  upright  and  re- 
spectable man,  who  labors  industriously  for  the  weal  of  his  con- 
stituents and  the  commonwealth. 

ALBERT  G.  PURDY 

Is  a  native  of  the  town  of  Plymouth,  Chenango  county,  N.  Y.     After 
attending  common  school,  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  he  commenced  the 
study  of  medicine,  and  was  admitted  to  practice  when  he  was  twenty-  • 
one  years  of  age.     He  commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  the 
town  of  Eaton,  where  he  now  resides.     A  few  years  since  he  was 


54 

nominated  by  the  Democrats  for  the  office  he  now  holds,  but  was 
defeated  by  Mr.  Bailey,  of  Brookfield. 

Doctor  Pttfdr  is  forty-eight  years  of  age,  five  feet  eight  inches  in 
height,  well-formed;  has  a  high,  bold  forehead,  mild,  blue  eyes,  brown 
whiskers,  and  dark  hair.  He  is  a  practical  man,  seldom  speaks,  but 
what  he  says  is  to  the  purpose;  is  a  self-made  man,  and  when  of  age, 
owed  for  his  medical  tuition  and  had  to  borrow  the  means  to  com- 
mence the  world  with.  He  now  occupies  a  high  social  position; 
is  president  of  Madison  County  Medical  Society — an  institution 
in  which  he  has  held  office  for  many  years.  He  has  been  a  Re- 
publican since  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  compromise  |  attends  the 
Congregational  church.  He  is  a  member  of  the  committee  on  claims, 
and  as  punctual  as  a  clock,  in  the  performance  of  his  duties. 

JOSEPH  PEACOCK 

Is  a  Republican,  was  formerly  a  Whig;  is  a  temperance  man;  a 
member  of  the  free  Baptist  church;  a  farmer;  a  married  man;  has 
been  justice  of  the  peace,  a  supervisor  of  the  town,  superintendent  of 
the  canal  rt  pairs,  &c.  He  is  a  hale  and  hearty  man,  fifty-one  years 
of  age;  stout  built;  has  dark  hair,  blue  eyes,  broad  forehead,  and 
eagle  nose. 

This  gentleman  took  his  position  on  the  Buffalo  platform  in  '48, 
but  left  the  Free  Soilers  when  they  began  to  fraternize  with  the 
Hunkers  a  few  years  afterwards.  He  is  a  man  of  great  decision  of 
character,  and  has  the  confidence  of  his  constituents. 


Was  formerly  a  Democrat,  is  now  a  Republican;  represents  Tioga 
county;  was  born  in  the  city  of  Utica;  is  a  bachelor,  about  forty 
years  of  age ;  has  worked  his  way  through  life  in  the  face  of  adverse 
circumstances.  Is  a  fine  looking  man,  with  large  dark  eyes  and  pro- 
minent forehead;  has  black  hair,  and  an  iron  temperament.  He  is  a 
mechanic  (a  blacksmith). 

At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  commenced  to  learn  the  business  of  making 
edge  tools,  with  the  firm  of  Winsor  &  Morris.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he 
removed  to  Little  Falls  with  Mr.  Morris  and  completed  the  learning 
of  his  trade.  In  the  year  1836  he  went  to  New  York  and  engaged  in 
the  business  of  stereotyping,  and  was  there  during  the  severe  business 
pressure  of  '37,  ?38  and  '39.  Not  succeeding  well,  he  removed  to 
Rochester  in  1841,  and  engaged  in  the  employ  of  the  Rochester  & 
Auburn  railroad.  In  1848  he  engaged  himself  to  D.  C.  McCallum, 
Esq.,  then  contractor  on  the  New  York  &  Erie  railroad,  and  was 
located  at  Port  Jervis,  Orange  county;  removed  to  Owego,  Tioga 
county  in  1851,  and  has  since  been  engaged  by  the  New  York  &  Erie 
railroad  company,  in  the  manufacturing  of  bridge  irons. 

His  education  was  a  limited  common  school  one.  A  fondness  for 
reading  characterized  him  in  early  life,  and  to  this  habit  of  reading, 
together  with  the  highest  moral  training  of  his  parents,  he  owes  all 
that  he  is.  Of  strong,  marked  characteristics,  he  has  always  been 


55 

esteemed  a  leader  rather  than  a  follower  of  those  with  whom  he  has 
been  brought  in  contact.  Of  social  temperament,  yet  apparently  dis- 
tant, distrustful  of  his  abilities  unless  fully  aroused. 

During  his  residence  in  Rochester  he  often  received  the  commenda- 
tion, in  the  social  societies  of  the  day,  of  his  fellow  citizens;  and  was 
one  of  the  first  in  an  organization  of  mechanics  in  that  city  for  social 
and  intellectual  improvement.  He  also  was  elected  to  the  highest 
offices  in  the  Odd  Fellows'  Lodge,  and  acquitted  himself  with 
honor.  When  the  charter  for  People's  College  was  obtained  in  1834, 
he  was  appointed  one  of  the  trustees,  and  has  devoted  much  time  and 
money  to  the  establishment  of  that  institution. 

He  received  the  largest  majority  ever  given  for  member  of  Assembly 
in  Tioga  county. 

JOSEPH  H.  RAMSEY. 

An  old  proverb  declares  that  articles  of  the  most  value  are  done 
up  in  small  packages.  Mr.  Ramsey  is  the  smallest  person  in  the 
Senate — being  only  five  feet  four  inches  in  height,  precisely  the  sta- 
ture of  one  of  the  most  gifted  kings  of  France.  Mr.  R.  is  well-pro- 
portioned; of  active  temperament;  wears  an  amiable  and  pleasant 
face,  which  kindles  with  a  genial  smile  when  he  recognizes  his 
friends.  He  has  dark  hair  mixed  with  a  few  threads  of  silver,  mild, 
blue  eyes,  which  sparkle  when  he  speaks.  He  is  forty  years  of  age, 
a  native  of  Schoharie  county;  studied  law  with  Jedidiah  Miller;  has 
a  good  practice  at  the  bar;  was  a  delegate  to  the  convention  at  Syra- 
cuse when  the  Republican  party  was  organized;  was  a  member  of  the 
Assembly  in  1855,  and  elected  to  the  Senate  the  year  following.  He  is 
on  the  railroad  and  other  committees.  Speaks  fluently  and  sensibly, 
and  is  a  general  favorite. 

EDWIN    ROSE, 

Member  from  the  First  District  of  Suffolk,  is  a  native  of  Bridge- 
hampton,  and  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  original  settlers  of  the  town 
of  South  Hampton,  which  settlement  was  made  in  1640;  born  Feb'y 
14,  1807.  After  having  received  a  common  school  and  academic 
education,  entered  the  U.S.  Military  Academy  at  West  Point  in  1826, 
graduated  at  that  institution  in  1830,  and  was  in  July  of  that  year 
commissioned  a  brevet  2d  lieutenant1  in  the  3d  regiment  of  artillery. 
During  his  service  in  that  regiment  he  was  engaged,  in  1832,  in  the 
Black  Hawk  war  with  the  troops,  under  Gen.  Scott,  and  was  present 
at  the  treaties  made  by  the  U.  S.  commissioner  with  the  Sacs  and 
Foxes,  and  the  Winnebagoes. 

In  July,  1834,  he  was  detached  from  his  regiment  for  service  as 
typographical  engineer,  and  in  that  capacity  was  engaged,  under  the 
direction  of  the  secretary  of  war,  in  surveying  the  shores  of  lakes 
Huron  and  Michigan,  and  in  making  the  preliminary  survey  of  a 
railroad  from  Detroit  to  St.  Joseph.  While  engaged  in  this  latter 
service  his  company,  Captain  Frasers,  of  the  3d  artillery,  was  ordered 
to  take  post  in  Florida,  and  composed  a  portion  of  the  detachment 


56 

commanded  by  the  lamented  Major  Dode,  which  was  massacred 
by  the  Seminole  Indians  in  December,  1835. 

Upon  the  re-organization  of  the  company  in  1836,  he  was  ordered 
to  join  his  company  in  Florida,  and  was  engaged  in  what  is  known 
as  Jessup's  campaign,  which  terminated  in  the  defeat  of  the  Indians 
at  the  big  cypress  swamp,  in  February,  1837.  During  this  period  pf 
service,  Mr.  R.  was  appointed  by  the  state  of  Illinois  as  engineer  on 
the  Michigan  &  Illinois  Canal,  which  appointment  he  declined.  In 
June,  1837,  having  accepted  the  appointment  of  engineer  on  the 
Detroit  &  St.  Joseph  railroad,  he  resigned  his  commission  in  the 
army  and  entered  upon  his  new  duties  in  the  state  of  Michigan.  In 
1839  he  removed  to  his  native  place,  where  he  has  ever  since  resided, 
in  the  occupation  and  improvement  of  his  paternal  inheritance. 

In  1847  Mr.  R.  was  nominated  by  the  Whig  party  of  his  District  as 
a  candidate  for  member  of  Assembly,  and  was  elected  by  a  large  major- 
ity, he  being  the  first  Whig  member  that  Democratic  old  Suffolk  ever 
sent  to  the  Legislature;  in  1848  he  was  re-nominated  and  returned  by 
a  largely  increased  majority.  In  March,  1849,  was  appointed  by  Gen- 
eral Taylor,  collector  for  the  port  of  Sag  Harbor,  which  office  he  held 
for  four  years. 

In  1853,  Mr.  R.  was  nominated  by  the  Whigs  of  the  First  Senate 
District  as  their  candidate  for  Senator,  but  the  question  of  a  prohi- 
bitory law  entering  into  the  canvass,  and  Mr.  R.  being  among  the 
opponents  of  such  a  law,  he  was  defeated.  In  the  autumn  of  1856, 
Mr.  R.  being  a  supporter  of  Mr.  Fillmore,  he  was  nominated  by  the 
friends  of  that  gentleman  as  a  candidate  for  the  Assembly,  and  receiv- 
ing also  a  large  vote  from  the  Democratic  party,  he  was  elected  by  a 
large  majority.  He  is  a  man  of  fine  figure,  erect  and  commanding; 
is  of  the  active  temperament;  has  blue  eyes,  brown  hair,  and  pale 
features;  evidently  a  man  of  heroic  impulses  and  daring  courage. 


VOLNEY  RICHMOND 

Was  born  in  Rensselaer  county,  in  the  District  he  now  represents. 
Was  apprenticed  to  a  carriage  maker;  followed  that  business  fifteen 
years  on  his  own  account;  then  kept  a  public-house  for  several  years. 
In  1840  was  elected  sheriff,  then  moved  to  Troy.  At  the  close  of  the 
six  years  (in  which  time  he  served  as  sheriff  and  under-sheriff  ),  he 
went  into  the  foundry  business;  afterwards  made  the  tour  of  Europe. 
On  his  return  he  purchased  a  farm  in  Hoosick,  where  his  family  now 
resides.  He  was  formerly  a  Whig,  is  now  a  Republican.  Attends 
the  Presbyterian  church;  is  a  man  of  fortune;  is  fifty- three  years  of 
age,  of  sanguine,  nervous  temperament;  has  large,  clear  eyes;  a 
ruddy,  healthy  face;  heavy  whiskers;  brown  hair  sprinkled  with  sil- 
ver. Is  on  the  bank  committee  and  the  committee  of  sixteen.  Is  a 
director  and  vice-president  of  the  Central  Bank,  Troy.  He  is  a  capi- 
tal financier  and  thoroughly  posted  on  all  matters  relating  to  banks 
and  banking  institutions,  and  his  naturally  strong  mind  has  been  im- 
proved by  travel  and  intercourse  with  eminent  men. 


57 

EATON  J.  RICHARDSON. 

Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  Mr.  Richardson  takes  such  an 
interest  in  the  divorce  bill,  which  he  originated  and  introduced  into 
the  Senate,  he  is  a  bachelor,  and  one  of  the  handsomest  men  in  the 
Senate.  Mr.  R.  is  a  native  of  Utica;  a  lawyer  by  profession;  a  man 
of  literary  taste;  of  metaphysical  turn  of  mind ;  a  calm,  close  reasoner, 
whose  forte  consists  in  the  investigation  of  first  principles;  has  the 
reputation  of  being  a  good  office  and  a  good  court  lawyer.  He  is 
about  forty  years  of  age,  rather  above  the  ordinary  stature;  has  a  long 
head,  square  forehead,  dark  hair  and  dark  eyes,  a  long  nose  which 
would  do  no  discredit  to  a  jew;  has  a  pale  countenance,  and  wears  a 
goatee.  He  represents  the  Nineteenth  Senatorial  District. 

SAMUEL  T.  ROBERTS 

Is  a  New  York  representative,  although  he  votes  to  please  himself, 
and  by  doing  so  sometimes  provokes  his  fellow  members  from  Gotham. 
Now  and  then  he  cracks  a  joke  at  the  expense  of  those  who  poke  fun 
at  him.  He  is  a  gentleman  of  leisure,  spending  his  winters  in  the 
city  and  his  summers  at  Saratoga.  He  is  the  architect  and  builder 
of  his  own  fortune.  Although  not  a  member  of  the  canal  committee, 
he  has  had  some  aquatic  experience  in  such  matters  since  the 
house  convened.  He  represents  the  Sixteenth  District  of  New 
York  city;  he  is  on  the  committee  of  charitable  institutions.  In 
person  he  is  short,  with  a  flushed  face;  is  prematurely  bald;  is  about 
forty  years  of  age;  a  pleasant,  sociable,  jolly,  sensible  man,' with  a 
heavy  purse  and  a  great  soul.  Gives  $1,000  per  year  to  the  poor. 

CYRIL  RAWSON 

Hails  from  Eagle,  Wyoming  county — being  sent  to  the  Legislature 
by  a  Republican  constituency.  Mr.  R.  is  a  native  of  the  old  Bay 
state,  fifty-fours  years  of  age,  five  feet  seven  inches  in  height,  of  the 
nervous,  sanguine  temperament;  has  dark  hair,  reddish  whiskers, 
blue  eyes — wears  glasses;  has  a  mild  countenance;  is  a  man  of  firm 
resolution  and  sterling  integrity;  a  temperance  man;  attends  the 
Universalist  church;  is  a  mechanic.  Has  been  inspector  of  schools, 
town  clerk,  supervisor,  and  session  justice.  Mr.  R.  was  a  school 
teacher  several  years.  He  is  a  very  faithful  and  efficient  man  and 
heartily  opposed  to  extravagant  expenditures  of  the  public  money. 
Wyoming  has  no  reason  to  complain  of  her  public  servants  in  the 
Legislature. 

JOHN  D.  RHOADES, 

The  member  of  the  Assembly  from  the  First  District  in  Onondaga 
county,  is  a  farmer  in  easy  circumstances.  He  is  of  the  Puritan 
stock,  and  was  born  in  Hampshire  county,  Mass.,  in  1801.  He  has 
been  a  resident  of  the  town  of  Elbridge  most  of  the  time  since  1810. 
Heretofore,  in  his  politics  he  has  been  a  Whig — an  active,  untiring 
worker — which  made  him  loved  by  his  friends  and  feared  by  his  poli- 
tical enemies.  He  is  one  of  that  class  of  individnals  whose  motto  is, 
"  never  give  up  the  ship."  He  is  connected  by  marriage  with  some 
of  the  most  influential  families  in  Onondaga  county — most  of  whom 


58 

have  been  his  bitter  political  opponents:  but  he  has,  by  fidelity  to  his 
party  and  devotion  to  his  principles,  obtained  a  station  which  many 
individuals  in  that  community  consider  the  height  of  their  ambition. 

In  personal  appearance  he  is  tall  and  dignified;  in  speech  and 
argument  he  is  direct  and  to  the  point.  He  has  a  tact  of  making  all 
understand  what  he  means,  and  the  rare  quality  of  sitting  down 
when  he  is  through — which  many  never  can  learn.  He  is  a  Baptist, 
though  not  bigoted  or  sectarian.  On  the  temperance  question  he  has 
been  as  firm  as  the  pyramids  of  Egypt,  freely  giving  his  time,  money 
and  influence  to  close  up  the  groggeries  and  stop  the  traffic. 

When  the  great  Whig  party  split  on  the  rock  of  slavery,  he  was 
among  the  first  who  were  found  gathering  together  its  broken  frag- 
ments, uniting  them  with  those  of  the  Democratic  party  who  would 
not  bow  to  the  giant  Moloch  of  slavery,  and  organizing  them  into  the 
present  Republican  party.  His  hatred  of  slavery  and  intemperance, 
his  firmness  and  integrity  of  character,  his  energy  and  stability  of 
purpose,  eminently  qualify  him  for  opp6sing  the  corruptions  of  lobby 
influence  and  the  venality  of  party  demagogues.  He  is  decidedly 
popular  with  the  laboring  classes,  and  a  warm  friend  of  the  poor. 
We  predict  that  the  enterests  of  the  empire  state  will  not  suffer  from 
the  power  placed  in  his  hands  by  the  people  of  old  Onondaga. 

NATHANIEL   ROE 

Represents  the  Sixth  Assembly  District  of  the  city  of  New  York  (the 
eighth)  the  empire  ward  of  the  Democracy.  He  was,  formerly,  from 
Goshen,  Orange  county;  has  lived  in  New  York  twenty  years;  is 
owner  of  real  estate ;  was  brought  up  on  a  farm.  He  attends  the 
Presbyterian  (Dr.  Spring's)  church.  He  is  a  man  of  excellent  morals 
and  unimpeached  integrity.  Mr.  R.  is  forty  years  of  age,  of  small 
stature,  wears  a  bright,  cheerful,  good-natured  face;  has  a  broad, 
prominent  forehead,  blue  eyes  and  fair  complexion.  He  is  universally 
esteemed  for  his  gentlemanly  deportment.  He  is  on  the  committee 
of  public  lands,  and  is  one  of  the  constant  members  who  watches 
carefully  the  welfare  of  his  constituents. 

Mr.  R.'s  father,  Thomas  W.  Roe,  was  in  the  war  of  1812 — he  died 
in  the  year  1828.  In  1854,  Mr.  R.  was  a  member  of  the  common 
council  of  the  city  of  New  York,  and  on  the  committee  of  public  build- 
ings on  Blackwall's  Island;  also,  on  ordinances;  was  a  delegate  to 
the  Tammany  hall  convention  which  nominated  delegates  to  revise 
the  state  constitution,  in  1846. 

JAMES  J.  REILLY. 

Mr.  J.  Reilly,  although  a  member  of  the  minority  party  in  the 
House,  is  a  general  favorite;  he  is  a  sociable,  pleasant  and  companion- 
able young  man  ;  was  born  in  the  city  of  New  York,  in  1832,  conse- 
quently is  onlv^  twenty-four  years  of  age.  He  is  a  Democrat,  dyed  in 
the  wool,  and  watches  with  an  eagle  eye  the  interests  of  his  constitu- 
ents and  his  party.  He  attends  the  Roman  Catholic  church.  His 
father  died  when  he  was  seventeen  years  of  age,  and  being  anxious  to 
do  something  to  support  a  widowed  mother,  two  sisters  and  a  younger 


59 

brother,  he  ventured  to  California  in  pursuit  of  a  fortune.  He 
remained  in  the  golden  land  about  two  years  and  then  returned  to  his 
native  city,  where  he  shortly  afterwards  received  an  appointment  as 
clerk  in  the  New  York  post-office,  under  the  Hon.  J.  V.  Fowler.  Mr. 
Reilly  discharged  the  duties  of  clerk  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  all 
parties  concerned,  and  resigned  the  position  a  short  time  before  he 
was  elected  to  represent  the  Thirteenth  Ward  in  the  General  Assem- 
bly. Mr.  R.  is  a  well-looking  young  man,  with  a  full,  merry  face, 
blue  eyes,  dark  hair  and  whiskers,  and  a  well-developed  figure.  He 
dresses  neatly;  speaks  occasionally  and  votes  according  to  the  wishes 
of  his  constituents.  He  is  on  the  committee  of  public  printing,  and 
is  prompt  and  faithful  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties. 

JAMES  RIDER. 

Senator  Rider  represents  the  First  Senatorial  District;  is  a  resident 
of  Jamaica,  Queens  county  ;  a  true  temperance  man;  has  been  grand 
deputy  and  worthy  patriarch  of  the  Sons  of  Temperance;  was  a  Soft 
Shell  Democrat,  but  the  Softs  left  him  because  of  his  cold-water  pro- 
clivities; was  elected  to  the  Assembly  in  1854.  Mr.  R.  is  a  man  of 
sterling  integrity,  and  fair  ability,  esteemed  wherever  he  is  known, 
and  his  honest  face  commands  the  confidence  of  all  who  see  him.  He 
is  a  deacon  of  the  Presbyterian  church;  reputed  wealthy;  is  about 
sixt}"-  years  of  age,  hair  quite  gray,  eyes  blue,  mouth  and  chin  finely 
cut,  feathers  of  the  Puritan  cast. 

JOHN  J.  REILLY. 

Mr.  Reilly  was  born  in  the  Seventh  Ward  of  the  city  of  New  York, 
in  the  year  1829,  and  is  now  twenty-eight  years  of  age.  At  an  early 
age  he  became  an  apprentice,  and  acquired  that  branch  of  mechanical 
art  known  as  "  house  carpenter."  and  worked  at  his  trade  until  1852, 
and  in  January,  1853,  was  appointed  clerk  in  the  rtgister's  office,  in 
the  city  of  New  York,  where  he  remained  until  1855,  when  the  Amer- 
icans elected  the  register,  when  he  was  ousted.  A  short  time  after- 
ward he  was  appointed  by  R.  B.  Connelly,  Esq.,  county  clerk  of  the 
county  of  New  York,  to  fill  a  vacancy  to  a  clerkship  in  his  office. 

In  1854  Mr.  Reilly  was  a  candidate  for  legislative  honors,  receiving 
the  Democratic  nomination  in  the  Seventh  Ward  (Fifth  Assembly 
District),  against  Edwin  L.  Smith,  American  and  Soft  Shell,  and  S. 
T.  McKinney,  Whig.  Mr.  R.  was  beaten  by  Mr.  Smith  by  262  major- 
ity. In  1855,  he  was  re-nominated  by  the  Democrats,  and  ran  against 
Edmund  P.  Barrow,  Whig  and  Republican  (who  also  received  the 
American  vote),  but  Mr.  Reilly  beat  the  combined  opposition  by  157 
majority.  He  was  again  nominated  on  the  Democratic  ticket  last  fall 
(1856),  and  ran  against  Edwin  Merritt,  American,  S.  L.  Woodford, 
Republican,  and  Thomas  L.  Faron,  Democrat.  The  vote  in,  the  Dis- 
trict stood  thus:  Reilly,  2 106;  Merritt,  1156;  Woodford,  720;  Faron, 
148;  giving  him  nearly  one  thousand  majority  over  the  next  highest 
caiididate,  and  eighty-two  majority  overall. 

Mr.  Reilly  has,  for  five  years,  occupied  the  position  of  secretary  of 
engine  company  No.  6,  popularly  known  as  "big  six,"  and  is  gener- 


60 

cms,  even  to  a  fault,  as  all  firemen  are.  They  are  the  chivafty  of 
modern  times — and  the  only  true  chivalry  now  extant.  The  hand 
may  be  rough,  the  mind  uncultivated,  but  the  heart  is  kind,  the  per- 
son brave,  and  the  spirit  undaunted  and  unflagging. 

Mr.  Reilley  is  a  young  man  of  pleasant  exterior,  is  no  hand  at 
forensic  display;  has  many  friends  in  the  legislative  circle, and  repre- 
sents his  constituents  truly  and  faithfully,  and  is  in  everyway  worthy 
of  their  confidence  and  esteem. 

SIDNEY  SMITH 

Is  from  Onondaga  county — represents  the  Second  District;  is  a 
Republican,  was  formerly  a  Democrat.  He  is  a  temperance  man,  a 
farmer — forty-two  years  of  age;  is  a  voting,  not  a  speaking  member. 
Mr.  Smith  is  a  man  of  common  size;  has  dark  hair,  brown  eyes,  red- 
dish whiskers,  and  a  round,  full,  healthy  face.  He  is  a  plain,  honest, 
unpretending,  straightforward  man,  a  hater  of  flams  and  shams  and 
proud  pretensions,  and  a  lover  of  the  right  and  true— just  such  a  man 
as  no  one  would  dare  to  approach  with  a  bribe. 

We  have  a  number  of  such  men,  of  different  political  predilections, 
in  the  House,  and  it  is  no  flattery,  but  fact,  to  say,  that  office  needs 
them  more  than  they  need  office. 

A.  M.  SMITH 

Is  a  son  of  Captain  D.  Smith;  is  a  native  of  Otsego  county,  a  farmer 
and  speculator;  has  always  been  an  active  business  man;  has  dealt 
in  cattle,  wool,  butter  and  cheese;  was  educated  at  Oxford  Academy; 
has  been  frequently  honored  by  his  constituents ;  has  been  supervisor 
of  the  town;  has  had  considerable  military  experience;  was  com- 
mander of  a  regiment  nine  years ;  was  two  years  grand  treasurer  of 
the  Grand  Lodge  of  New  York  ;  was  two  years  representative  to  the 
National  Encampment,  and  two  years  in  the  Senate.  He  is  a  man 
of  energetic  physical  power,  sociable,  friendly;  does  not  court  nor 
shrink  from  opposition;  has  impetus,  efficiency,  energy;  has  blue 
eyes,  dark  hair,  stout-built  frame. 

W.  M.  SMITH 

Is  a  native  of  Paterson,  N.  J. ;  removed  to  Alleghany  county,  N.  Y., 
when  five  years  of  age;  at  fifteen,  commenced  his  academic  studies  at 
Wyoming,  N.  Y. ;  at  twenty-one  graduated  as  doctor  of  medicine  at 
one  of  the  New  England  colleges;  commenced  practice  in  the  town  of 
his  adoption,  and  has  been  engaged  since  in  the  duties  of  his  profes- 
sion in  that  place,  with  but  brief  intervals.  Early  and  ardently  en- 
gaged in  the  temperance  movement.  His  antecedents  are  democratic. 
In  the  division  of  the  Democratic  party  he  espoused  the  principles  of  the 
Soft  Democracy.  Sympathized  and  was  actively  engaged  in  the  earliest 
movements  of  the  Republican  party.  Was  chosen  supervisor  of  the  town 
in  March  1857.  As  a  boy,  was  poor  and  struggled  hard  to  acquire 
an  education;  is  now  in  the  enjoyment  of  comparative  independence, 
and  has  one  of  the  most  extensive  rides  in  western  New  York.  He  is  a 
tall,  straight,  handsome  man,  with  sloe-black  eyes,  raven  hair  and 
dark  complexion;  a  man  of  keen  perceptions,  sound  judgment,  and 
nice  taste.  His  parents  were  from  New  England,  and  of  the  revolu- 
tionary stock. 


61 

JUSTIN  A.  SMITH 

Was  born  18 18,  in  the  town  of  Whitehall  in  the  county  of  Washington; 
was  brought  up  on  a  farm,  has  been  clerk  in  a  store;  when  quite  a 
young  man  was  inspector  on  the  Champlain  Canal;  afterwards 
returned  to  farming.  In  1849  he  was  employed  by  the  Saratoga  and 
Whitehall  -Railroad  Company,  and  is  now  in  the  service  of  that  com- 
pany. Mr.  S.  is  a  stout-built,  hearty,  heavy  man,  with  a  full,  round, 
rosy  face,  large,  blue  eyes  that  sparkle  with  fun  and  good  nature;  he 
is  rather  bald,  but  .the  lack  of  hair  shows-a  fine  head,  which  shows  no 
lack  of  brains. 

Mr.  S.  was  in  the  Assembly  in  1854;  he  is  now  on  the  committee 
on  expiring  laws,  one  of  the  committee  on  the  division  of  towns  and 
counties,  and  chairman  of  the  committee  on  the  internal  affairs  of 
towns  and  counties*  Mr.  S.  is  a  married  man;  attends  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  church.  Mr.  S.  speaks  with  considerable  unction,  and 
when  excited  his  speech  approximates  to  eloquence.  He  represents 
the  magnificent  counties  of  Washington  and  Saratoga,  every  acre  of 
which  has  been  rendered  classic  b}'  revolutionary  scenes  and  remini- 
scences. 

C.  P.   SMITH, 

Senator  from  Kings  county,  is  a  gentleman  who  has  risen  from  a  very 
small  beginning  to  be  a  person  of  decided  influence.  He  is  a  native  of 
New  England;  came  to  the  then  village  of  Brooklyn  about  twenty-five 
years  ago;  entered  into  the  practice  of  law;  was  successful;  elected 
clerk  of  the  common  council  when  Brooklyn  became  an  incorporated 
city;  he  was  afterwards  elected  mayor.  He  has  filled  many  offices  in 
that  city,  and  stands  among  her  citizens  as  one  of  the  most  respected 
and  energetic  of  her  enterprising  citizens.  The  election  of  such  a 
man  does  both  honor  to  the  Senate  and  to  the  city  who  sends  him. 
He  is  a  magnificent  looking  man,  with  large,  black  eyes  and  heavy 
brow,  which  forcibly  remind  one  of  Daniel  Webster. 

MARK  SPENCER, 

Senator  from  New  York,  is  an  elderly  gentleman,  with  a  head  of  hair 
white  as  snow,  though  he  possesses  the  activity  and  energy  of  a  young 
man  of  thirty.  Mr.  S.  is  a  retired  merchant,  living  in  the  Ninth  Ward  of 
that  city,  in  a  beautiful  cottage  surrounded  with  fruits  and  flowers. 
He  is  a  gentleman  active  in  the  benevolent  institutions  of  the  day, 
and  an  ardent  member  of  the  Episcopal  church.  In  his  habits  quiet 
and  retired,  yet  active  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties  as  Senator. 
Among  all  that  know  him  the  wonder  is,  how  it  came  to  pass  that  the 
eity  of  New  York  could  send  so  amiable  and  accomplished  a  gentle- 
man to  represent  them.  He  stands  very  high  among  his  clique,  as 
evinced  by  their  electing  him  as  their  president,  although  not  a  mem- 
ber of  the  dominant  party. 

GEORGE  T.  SPENCER 

Was  born  in  Middleton,  Connecticut.  When  a  lad  he  spent  his 
summers  in  a  factory  amid  the  hum  of  spindles  and  the  clank  of 
machinery;  when  older  grown,  he  spent  six  years  at  school  fitting 


62 

himself  for  college;  he  graduated  at  Yale  in  1837;  then  taught  school 
for  one  year;  afterwards  read  law  in  Hartford,  in-  Judge  Ellsworth's 
office;  and  afterwards,  pursuing  his  studies  in  Syracuse,  was  ad- 
mitted to  practice  in  1841,  and  put  out  his  shingle  in  the  town  of 
Corning,  Steuben  county.  He  is  a  Republican;  on  the  judiciary  and 
other  committees;  he  is  forty-two  years  of  age,  tall  and  well-shaped, 
has  brown  hair  and  blue  eyes.  He  is  a  man  of  marked  ability,  out 
never  enters  the  arena  of  debate  without  putting  on  his  armor,  and 
the  lance  he  tilts  is  pretty  sure  to  impale  his  opponent. 

.  GEORGE  G.  SCOTT 

Is  a  man  of  fine  personal  presence,  tall,  straight,  and  of  faultless  form; 
the  ordinary  observer  would  select  him  in  a  crowd,  as  a  man  of  supe- 
rior intellect  and  power.  His  soft,  light  hair  and  magnetic  eyes,  and 
fair  skin,  denote  that  delicate  sensibility  and  exquisite  feeling  for 
which  cultivated  men  of  the  nervous  temperament  are  noted. 

Judge  Scott  was  born  in  Ballston,  Saratoga  county,  in  1811; 
graduated  at  Union  College  in  1831;  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and 
commenced  practice  at  Ballston  Spa  in  1834,  where  he  still  practices 
his  profession  with  eminent  success.  In  1838  he  was  appointed 
Judge  of  Saratoga  county,  but  resigned  before  the  expiration  of  his 
term.  He  was  elected  to  the  Assembly  in  1855,  and  returned  to  his 
seat  in  1856;  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  one  of  the  strongest  men  in  the 
Legislature.  In  debate  he  is  calm,  deliberate,  and  argumentative; 
as  a  legislator  he  is  careful,  judicious  and  conservative;  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  judiciary  committee,  and  the  committee  of  sixteen.  It  ma3r 
not  be  amiss  to  state  here,  that  in  the  county  where  he  lives  and  -in 
neighboring  counties,  he  has  such  a  hold  on  the  confidence  of  the 
community,  that  he  tries  more  cases  as  a  referee  than  any  other  man  in 
the  county. 

DANIEL  E.  SICKLES 

Has  a  national  reputation,  and  is  really  one  of  the  most  noticeable 
men  in  the  Senate,  as  he  is  one  of  the  ablest  debaters.  It  will  be 
remembered  that  he  was  once  bearer  of  despatches  to  London,  and 
secretary  of  legation  under  Buchanan;  hence,  he  is  now  in  full  feather 
and  one  of  the  strong  powers  behind  the  throne.  It  must  not  be  for- 
gotten that  he  once  sent  a  challenge  to  John  Van  I?uren,  who  pre- 
ferred a  feast  of  humble  pie  to  pills  of  lead,  and  powders  of  sulphur 
and  salt-petre — yes,  Dan  has  pluck,  and  will  fight  in  an  emergency. 
He  is  a  native  of  Glen's  Falls,  Warren  county,  but  his  parents 
moved  to  Brooklyn  when  he  was  quite  young.  From  what  we  can 
glean  of  his  history,  he  was  a  "  fast  boy,"  whose  early  political  edu- 
cation was  democratic — he  being  a  graduate  of  Tammany  hall,  and  is 
now  one  of  the  sachems  in  that  national  school  of  politics.  He  is 
certainly  one  of  the  ablest  young  men  in  the  Democratic  party  in  the 
state  of  New  York.  As  a  manager  he  has  few  superiors;  as  a  speaker 
he  is  choice  in  the  use  of  language,  clear  in  his  statements,  and  logical 
in  the  management  of  his  argument. 

He  has  been  in  the  Assembly;  now  represents  the  Third  Senatorial 
District.  He  is  on  the  committee  of  grievances,  Indian  affairs,  and 


63 

judiciary — at  the  present  writing  he  is  seeking  office  for  his  friends. 
He  is  a  lawyer;  a  married  man;  rather  aristocratic;  generous  and 
impulsive.  In  person  he  is  tall,  and  \vell  built;  is  of  sanguine,  ner- 
vous temperament;  has  brown  hair,  wears  a  brown  moustache  a  la 
French  style;  has  large,  light,  magnetic  eyes,  and  a  superb  head.  He  is 
about  forty  years  of  age — a  sharp  sickle,  reaping  laurels  in  the  field 
of  politics. 

ANDREW  SHEEHAN 

Is  seldom  in  his  seat  and  we  have  not  the  pleasure  of  his  acquaintance, 
and  have  to  depend  upon  others  for  the  scanty  materials  for  a  sketch. 
He  represents  the  Fourth  Ward  of  the  city  of  New  York;  has  just 
returned  from  California,  with  a  full  pocket  and  broken  health;  he  is 
an  Irishman,  a  Catholic,  a  Democrat.  Ill  health  has  detained  him  at 
home  when  he  would  like  to  have  been  in  his  seat  attending  to  the 
wishes  of  his  constituents. 

S.   SOMERVILLE. 

Mr.  Somerville  is  from  Warren  county,  and  on  the  committee  of 
charitable  and  religious  institutions.  He  has  been  detained  at  home 
by  sickness  ^during  a  greater  part  of  the  session.  He  is  a  quiet,  hon- 
est, fair-looking  man,  in  the  prime  of  life;  votes  with  the  Republican 
party;  is  a  farmer,  and  has  the  appearance  of  an  independen-t  lord  of 
the  soil. 

ERASTUS  STICKNEY 

Is  from  the  county  of  Orange,  and  represents  the  Third  District  in 
that  county;  he  is  a  Democrat;  a  farmer;  a  man  of  family;  has  been 
justice  of  the  peace.  He  is  about  forty-six  years  of  age,  rather  below 
medium  height;  has  brown  hair  tinged  with  gray,  small,  blue  eyes, 
and  a  smoothly-shaven  face.  He  is  a  member  of  the  salt  committee. 

ROBERT  STAPLES 

Represents  the  Third  District  of  Monroe  county;  is  a  Republican;  a 
temperance  man ;  attends  the  Methodist  church ;  has  been  justice  and 
supervisor;  is  sixty-three  years  old;  hair  iron  gray,  whiskers  ditto; 
face  strongly  marked.  He  is  a  man  of  standing  and  character.  He 
is  chairman  of  the  committee  on  public  printing. 

JAMES   S.  SLUYTER 

Is  one  of  the  most  popular  members  of  the  young  democracy  of  the 
city  of  New  York.  Long  before  we  met  him,  he  had  become  familiar 
to  us  as  the  social,  generous  Sluyter,  and  upon  acquaintance  we  real- 
ized the  justness  of  the  reputation.  Wo  have  known  very  few  men 
capable  of  indulging  in  all  the  pleasnres  and  gaieties  of  life,  and  yet 
preserving  an  equal  postion  of  respect  and  dignity.  We  have  seen 
him  to-day  as  frolicksome  as  a  boy,  and  perhaps  to-morrow  an  old 
man  will  lean  upon  his  arm  and  couhsel  with  him  in  all  the  serious- 
ness of  his  profession. 


64 

He  was  early  wedded  to  a  young  and  beautiful  girl,  with  whom 
he  passed,  upon  the  banks  of  the  Hudson,  a  life  of  happiness 
until  her  death;  we  have  heard  from  those  who  knew  her  well,  that 
earth  seldom  received  a  lovelier  form,  or  heaven  a  purer  spirit. 

Great  credit  is  due  Mr.  Sluyter  from  the  Democracy  for  his  adher- 
ence to  their  faith,  as  his  most  intimate  business  associates  are 
Republicans,  and  his  distinguished  partner,  Dudley  Field,  occupied 
an  important  position  in  the  late  Republican  movement  in  the  state. 
Some  of  the  New  York  journals  have  called  in  question  his  fidelity 
to  the  Democratic  party,  and  have  intimated  that  his  associates  were 
winning  him  over  to  the  Republican  ranks;  but  those  who  know  him, 
are  persuaded  that  a  deep  current  of  democracy  flows  through  all  his 
sentiments,  and  the  ties  of  friendship  can  never  divert  it  from  its 
course. 

That  Mr.  S.  is  a  man  of  talent  can  not  be  doubted,  and  that  he  has 
not  exercised  it  more  energetically  during  his  present  representation, 
is  owing  to  the  fact  that,  his  being  in  the  minority  party,  would  ren- 
der such  efforts  comparatively  useless.  Mr.  Sluyter  is  thirty-three 
years  of  age,  of  commanding  appearance,  cultivated  address,  warm 
impulses,  and  pleasant  expression. 


BENJAMIN  SQUIRES. 

Mr.  Squires  represents  the  Second  District  of  St.  Lawrence.  He 
is  a  native  of  Vermont,  came  to  this  state  when  a  boy  fourteen  years 
of  age,  and  followed  the  occupation  of  farming.  When  of  age,  he 
extemporized  himself  into  a  carpenter,  and  was  a  good  workman  the 
first  day  he  worked  at  the  trade  (being  a  natural  mechanic).  He 
continued  in  that  business  about  twenty  years,  when  he  was  elected 
sheriff  of  the  county  of  St.  Lawrence.  He  was  supervisor  of  the  town 
for  six  years  in  succession;  also  held  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace 
and  that  of  postmaster  in  the  town  of  Pierpont. 

Mr.  S.  was  formerly  a  Whig — one  of  the  first  Whigs  in  the  town 
of  Canton  who  came  out  in  favor  of  Republicanism.  He  was  sent  to 
the  Assembly  by  the  Republicans,  and  they  were  so  well  satisfied  with 
his  actions  in  the  House  that  they  returned  him  to  his  seat.  He  was 
for  many  years  a  near  neighbor  of  Silas  Wright,  and  relates  many  in- 
teresting reminiscences  connected  with  the  history  of  that  eminent 
and  honored  statesman.  They  were  associated,  not  only  in  civil  but 
military  life ;  though  differing  in  politics,  they  always  agreed  upon 
other  points,  and  were  very  near  and  dear  friends. 

Mr.  Squires  attends  the  Methodist  church ;  he  is  sixty  years  of  age ; 
a  large,  full-breasted,  fine  looking  man,  weighing  220  pounds.  He  is 
a  man  of  great  influence  in  the  House,  and  has  ten  times  the  power 
of  all  the  noisy  Nancys  who  hop  up  to  explain,  apologize  and  excuse 
themselves,  at  the  expense  of  the  esteem  of  their  friends.  He  is  & 
man  of  sterling  honesty  and  true  courage.  May  his  shadow  never  be 
less. 

He  is  chairman  of  the  committee  on  state  prisons,  and  a  member 


65 

of  the  select  committee  on  the  question  of  capital  punishment.  He  is 
marked  for  soundness  of  judgment  and  unswerving  integrity. 

MARTIN  SCHUTT 

Is  a  native  of  Ulster  connty;  lives  in  the  town  of  Olive;  is  a  farmer, 
and  licensed  attorney.  He  was  formerly  a  Whig,  but  is  now  an 
American.  He  is  a  justice  of  the  sessions  ;  opposed  to  prohibition  ; 
attends  the  Methodist  church;  is  a  married  man.  He  has  dark  hair 
and  eyes,  and  a  dark  complexion;  is  a  quiet,  nervous,  serious,  care- 
ful man,  of  unexceptionable  character. 

He  is  now  forty-two  years  old;  married  in  1838,  then  not  worth  one 
dollar;  has  no  children ;  is  a  justice  of  the  peace,  and  has  been  for  eleven 
years;  justice  of  the  sessions  in  1851;  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1851: 
now  resides  in  the  village  of  Shakar  in  the  town  of  Olive ;  owns  house, 
lot  and  office,  and  doing  a  good  business. 

EBENEZER  S.  STRAIT 

Eepresents  the  Third  District  of  Rensselaer  county;  is  an  American, 
a  lawyer,  practicing  in  East  Nassau;  is  a  married  man,  thirty-two  years 
of  age;  is  on  the  committee  of  erection  and  division  of  towns  and 
counties,  and  the  committee  of  privileges  and  elections.  He  is  tall 
and  well-formed;  of  the  nervous  temperament;  has  light  brown  hair, 
blue  eyes,  and  a  well-developed  forehead.  He  stands  well  in  the 
House,  and  has  labored  faithfully  and  zealously  for  the  welfare  of  his 
constituency. 

EDMUND  G.  SUTHERLAND 

Is  from  White  Plains,  Westchester  county;  he  is  on  the  committee  of 
public  printing,  and  on  the  census  committee.  Mr.  S.  is  a  man  of 
superior  ability  as  a  political  writer,  he  stands  high  in  the  esteem  of 
the  party  which  honored  him  with  its  confidence  and  its  suffrage.  He 
is  the  editor  of  one  of  the  oldest  and  ablest  journals  in  the  section  of 
the  state  where  it  is  published.  He  is  a  tall,  noble  looking  man,  with 
dark  hair,  blue  eyes,  rather  pale  features;  his  large  perceptive  facul- 
ties give  his  well-developed  forehead  a  retreating  look;  a  phrenolo- 
gist would  pronounce  his  head  eminently  fitted  for  legislative  business. 
He  has  the  good  taste  to  vote  according  to  the  wishes  of  his  constitu- 
ents, without  wasting  the  time  of  the  House  and  the  people's  money 
by  making  Buncombe  speeches. 

SIDNEY  SWEET. 

Senator  Sweet,  by  a  singular  coincidence,  has  been  put  upon  the 
committee  of  salt;  but  he  is  a  man  whose  character  needs  no  such 
preservative  to  keep  it  pure  amid  the  corruptive  influences  of  political 
associations.  Mr.  S.  is  an  eminent  business  man,  a  banker  in  Dans- 
ville,  Livingston  county.  He  is  in  the  meridian  of  life;  has  brown 
hair,  blue  eyes,  and  a  smoothly-shaven  face.  He  holds  a  check  rein 
on  all  who  have  a  claim  on  the  public  purse;  he  is  on  the  committee 
of  claims  and  poor  laws,  and  watches,  with  sleepless  vigilance,  for 
the  best  interests  of  his  constituents. 

5 


66 
RICHARD  U.  SHERMAN. 

Mr.  Sherman  was  born  at  Vernon,  in  Oneida  county,  1819.  He 
received  a  good  school  and  academical  education,  and  at  the  early 
age  of  fourteen  commenced  life  on  his  own  hook,  as  a  merchant's 
clerk  in  an  extensive  wholesale  establishment  in  Utica,  where  he 
received  a  thorough  commercial  education. 

It  had  been  his  intention  to  adopt  the  profession  of  engineering, 
for  which  he  possessed  great  natural  aptitude,  but  the  financial  diffi- 
culties of  that  time  putting  a  stop  to  all  active  public  work  on  the 
railroads  and  canals,  he  was  compelled  to  abandon  his  cherished 
wish. 

Having  a  distaste  for  trade,  he  engaged,  on  completing  his  mercan- 
tile Apprenticeship,  in  1840,  in  the  publication  of  a  campaign  news- 
paper at  Utica,  devoted  to  the  success  of  the  Whig  Presidential 
candidates.  The  reputation  he  gained  in  this  effort  led  to  his  engage- 
ment, in  the  subsequent  year,  as  the  leading  editor  of  the  Utica  Daily 
Gazette,  when  that  paper  was  established. 

In  his  political  ideas  he  was  of  the  progressive  school.  Differences 
of  opinion  between  himself  and  the  proprietor — who  was  attached  to 
the  conservative  wing  of  the  Whig  party — induced  him  to  leave  the 
editorial  management  of  the  paper  at  the  end  of  the  first  year. 

He  was  subsequently  engaged  for  six  years  as  editor  of  different 
newspaper  publications.  He  conducted  the  Herkimer  Journal  during 
the  Clay  campaign  of  1844  with  marked  spirit  and  ability,  and  in 
1846  he  edited  the  Daily  Advertiser  at  Oswego. 

In  the  year  following  he  established,  at  Rochester,  in  connection 
with  Erastus  Clark,  (present  recorder  of  Utica,)  the  Daily  Evening 
Gazette,  a  paper  devoted  to  the  nomination  of  Gen.  Taylor  for  the 
Presidency,  in  which  cause  it  rendered  an  energetic  and  consistent 
support. 

He  subsequently  engaged  in  the  publication  of  the  Morning  Herald 
in  Utica,  of  which  paper  he  was  the  principal  editor  during  the  first 
three  years  of  its  existence.  The  Herald  was  established  as  the 
organ  of  liberal  Whig  principles,  in  opposition  to  the  Gazette,  which 
had  become  wholly  devoted  to  the  policy  of  the  Silver  Greys. 

The  rivalry  between  the  two  papers  was  fierce  and  bitter,  and  Mr. 
Sherman  was  subjected  to  heavy  pecuniary  loss  in  his  efforts  to  place 
the  Herald  on  a  successful  footing. 

He  ceased  his  connection  with  the  Herald  on  his  election  as  Clerk 
of  the  Assembly,  in  1851.  The  paper  had  at  that  time  succeeded  in 
gaining  a  large  circulation,  and  an  extensive  and  prosperous  business. 
It  has  since  swallowed  up  its  old  rival,  and  the  two  papers,  the 
Herald  and  Gazette,  are  now  united  and  doing  good  service  in  the 
cause  of  Republicanism. 

He  was  first  elected  Clerk  of  the  Assembly  over  a  number  of  pow- 
erful antagonists,  and,  though  he  entered  upon  the  office  without  any 
previous  experience  in  its  particular  duties,  he  showed  himself  at 
home  in  the  position  from  the  start,  and  soon  gained  a  reputation  for 
executive  ability  equaled  by  few  of  his  predecessors  and  surpassed  by 
none.  He  occupied  the  position  five  years,  retiring  at  the  expiration 


67 

of  that  time  to  assume  a  position,  perhaps  more  honorable,  but  cer- 
tainly no  more  arduous  or  responsible,  as  a  Member  of  Assembly  from 
the  First  Assembly  District  of  Oneida  county. 

Mr.  Sherman  possesses  a  mind  of  great  acuteness.  His  perceptive 
faculties  are  uncommonly  strong,  and  in  most  matters  with  which  he 
has  to  do,  he  reaches,  almost  by  intuition,  the  conclusions  which,  with 
the  generality  of  men,  are  only  arrived  at  by  laborious  study.  His 
mind  is  all  order  and  system,  and  he  possesses  great  power  of  analy- 
sis. He  is  quick  in  thought  and  action,  clear  headed  and  capable  of 
performing  a  great  amount  of  mental  labor  in  a  limited  time,  and 
with  a  variety  of  subjects  on  his  mind  at  the  same  time  does  not  get 
confused.  These  elements  of  character  have  given  him  his  wide- 
spread reputation  as  a  parliamentarian. 

He  is  a  terse,  vigorous  and  forcible  writer,  drawing  his  arguments 
from  facts  rather  than  from  theories,  but  makes  no  pretensions  as  a 
speaker. 

Frank  and  generous  in  character  and  affable  in  his  manner,  he 
makes  warm  friends  wherever  he  is  known.  At  home  he  enjoys  an 
unbounded  personal  popularity.  He  has  gone  through  nearly  the 
whole  range  of  municipal  honors  in  his  city,  and  has  for  several  years 
been  one  of  the  most  valuable  members  of  the  board  of  supervisors 
of  his  native  county.  As  an  estimate  of  his  standing  in  the  latter 
capacity,  it  may  be  mentioned  that  in  his  first  year,  though  the  junior 
member  of  the  board,  he  was  elected  its  presiding  officer.  He  has 
been  prominently  connected  with  nearly  all  the  public  enterprises  in 
his  county  for  the  last  ten  years. 

He  took  an  active  part  in  the  organization  of  the  militia  under  the 
new  law  of  1851,  and  now  commands  one  of  the  finest  brigades  of 
uniform  troops  in  the  state. 

He  was  chief  engineer  of  the  fire  department  of  Utica  during  a 
portion  of  the  incendiary  period,  when  the  emergency  called  for  the 
exercise  of  the  highest  powers  of  command. 

He  has,  for  many  years  been  at  the  head  of  the  political  organiza- 
tion of  his  party  in  Oneida  county,  and  enjoys  a  reputation  for  great 
sagacity  and  efficiency  as  a  politician. 

C.  W.  TALLETT. 

Mr.  Tallett  was  born  in  Oneida  county,  in  1819.  He  is  of  German 
descent.  His  father  died  when  the  subject  of  this  mention  was  but 
three  years  old,  At  the  age  of  four  he  was  taken  into  the  family  of  a 
distant  relative,  in  Chenango  county,  and  trained  to  agricultural 
pursuits. 

As  soon  as  he  had  passed  his  minority,  he  engaged  in  teaching 
common  school,  and  in  the  spring  of  1841  entered  Clinton  Seminary, 
where  he  remained  three  years,  passing  through  the  necessary  pre- 
paration for  admission  to  college.  Want  of  means  induced  him  to 
engage  again  in  teaching,  an  employment  of  which  he  was  passionately 
fond,  and  in  which  he  was  eminently  successful. 

He  then  commenced  the  study  of  medicine,  under  Drs.  Thomas  £ 
Gardner,  in  Whitestown,  and  graduated  at  the  College  of  Physicians 


and  Surgeons,  New  York,  in  1849.  He  soon  after  located  in  Whites- 
town,  commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession,  and  was  twice  elected 
town  superintendent  of  common  schools. 

In  the  spring  of  1853  he  removed  to  West  Exeter,  Otsego  county, 
his  present  residence,  and  engaged  in  agriculture  during  the  summer, 
and  teaching  during  the  winter. 

In  the  spring  of  1856  he  visited  Kansas,  for  the  purpose  of  fixing 
on  a  future  home,  and  contributing  to  the  cause  of  freedom  in  that 
persecuted  land.  He  passed  up  the  Missouri  river  in  company  with 
Major  Buford  and  regiment,  and  learned  all  the  plans  and  designs  of 
that  distinguished  fillibustering  expedition.  He  took  a  claim  of  160 
acres  on  the  Santa  Fe  road,  nine  miles  south  of  Lawrence,  and  com- 
menced improvements  by  getting  out  timber  for  a  frame  house,  &c. 
He  heard  much  of  the  testimony  taken  by  the  Congressional  commit- 
tee, and  became  acquainted  with  Govs.  Robinson  and  Reeder,  and 
other  distinguished  characters  in  the  territory.  He  was  stopped  and 
searched  by  Marshal  Donaldson's  posse,  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet 
(in  the  hands  of  Buford's  men);  witnessed  the  murder  of  John  Jones 
at  Blanton's  bridge,  on  the  19th  of  May,  and  the  destruction  of  the 
printing  press,  the  Free  State  hotel,  and  Gov.  Robinson's  house,  on 
the  21st. 

After  witnessing  much  of  the  wrong  and  outrage  perpetrated  upon 
the  free  state  settlers  in  that  territory,  and  finding  it  impracticable  to 
locate  his  family  there,  he  returned  to  Otsego  county  about  the  first 
of  July,  and  was  soon  induced  to  take  the  stump  for  Fremont  and  free- 
dom. He  was  presented  as  a  candidate  for  the  Assembly  in  the  Second 
District  of  his  county,  and  was  elected  by  700  majority  over  his  popu- 
lar opponent,  Gen.  Brown  of  Cooperstown. 

Mr.  Tallett  is  a  small,  spare  man,  with  a  thin,  sallow  face,  dark 
eyes,  black  hair;  wears  moustaches;  is  quick  and  nervous;  has  a 
good  mind  ;  speaks  with  electric  force. 

HIRAM  TIFFT 

Was  born  at  Venice,  Cayuga  county,  N.  Y.,  in  1811,  and  is  conse- 
quently forty-five  years  of  age.  He  is  a  farmer  by  profession,  indus- 
trious, enterprising  and  intelligent.  He  has  none  of  that  false  pride 
which  keeps  some  men  from  soiling  their  hands  in  their  own  fields ; 
but  seems  proud  of  his  business.  In  1839  he  emigrated  to  Illinois, 
but  returned  on  the  death  of  his  father,  in  1849,  and  took  possession 
of  the  family  estate. 

Mr.  Tifft  was  formerly  a  Democrat.  He  stepped  on  the  Buffalo 
platform  in  '48,  and  has  since  consistently  adhered  to  its  principles. 
He  did  not  vote  for  Pierce  in  '52,  believing  him  to  be  unsafe ;  neither 
did  he  vote  for  Scott,  nor  Hale.  Voted  for  E.  B.  Morgan  at  that 
election,  against  the  Democratic  candidate  (a  northern  doughface), 
although  receiving  the  censure  of  his  own  party  friends. 

He  early  took  a  decided  stand  in  the  temperance  reformation,  and 
has  since  maintained  a  consistent  attitude  in  every  ordeal  through 
which  it  has  passed.  When  clouds  loomed  up  the  darkest,  then  most 
has  his  cheering  voice  been  heard.  It  is  to  his  firmness  of  purpose, 


69 

reliability  and  principle,  with  an  honesty  of  intention  above  reproach, 
that  he  owes  his  present  position  as  a  state  legislator.  He  is  A 
hearty-looking  man,  has  brown  hair,  reddish  whiskers,  and  ruddy 
face.  He  is  a  man  of  energy  and  strict  integrity. 

AUGUSTUS  J.  TIFFANY 

Was  the  nominee  of  the  American  party  in  the  First  Assembly 
District  in  Erie  county  (Buffalo),  but  was  supported  by  the  Repub- 
licans, and  voted  with  the  Republican  party  in  the  House.  He  was 
formerly  a  farmer,  but  is  now  engaged  in  the  forwarding  and  commis- 
sion business,  and  of  course  in  favor  of  the  elargement  of  the  canal, 
and  goes  for  discriminating  tolls.  Has  been  a  member  of  the  third 
House  for  twenty  years  and  is  well  posted  on  parliamentary  usages. 
He  is  on  the  committee  on  commerce  and  navigation.  Mr.  T,  is  forty- 
seven  years  of  age,  of  stout  build,  broad  shouldered,  and  a  man  of 
great  muscular  strength;  has  dark  hair,  dark  eyes,  brown  whiskers 
snowed  with  white.  He  is  a  man  of  warm  and  generous  impulses; 
a  practical  business  man,  with  energy  enough  for  a  township  of 
lymphatic  men.  Gerrit  Smith  gave  him  the  name  of  Buffalo. 

SOLON  O.  THACHER. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  fair  specimen  of  "  young  America;" 
one  that  can,  dare  and  do.  He  represents  the  Third  District  of  Steuben 
county,  and  this  is  his  first  term.  He  has  been  a  Whig,  but  is  now 
an  out-and-out  Republican,  earnest  for  the  advancement  of  humanity. 
He  was  born  and  brought  up  at  Hornellsville,  and  cherishes  a  patri* 
otic  desire  for  the  advancement  and  prosperity  of  the  home  pf  his 
boyhood.  In  Alfred  Academy  he  received  a  course  of  education  pre- 
paratory for  college,  after  which,  he  entered  Union  College,  where  he 
graduated  with  considerable  honor;  after  which  he  studied  law  at 
Albany,  and  was  admitted  to  practice  in  March,  1856.  Mr.  Thacher 
is  now  twenty-six  years  of  age;  and  possesses  the  elements  of  an 
effective  speaker.  Has  light  hair,  a  pale,  healthy  face,  mild,  blue 
eyes,  with  a  soul  behind  them. 

Mr.  T.  is  a  man  of  nice  taste,  and  his  talents  promise  a  bright 
future.  It  is  pretty  generally  conceded,  that  he  made  one  of  the  most 
eloquent  speeches  heard  in  our  legislative  halls  during  the  session. 
He  is  on  the  committee  of  colleges,  academies  and  common  schools, 
and  on  the  committee  of  privileges  and  elections. 

ABRAHAM  G.  THOMPSON 

Represents  the  Second  Assembly  District  of  Suffolk  county,  and  is  on 
the  sub-committee  of  the  whole,  and  the  joint  library  committee.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  House  from  the  city  of  New  York  in  1845;  is  a 
Democrat;  attends  the  Presbyterian  church;  is  a  married  man,  forty 
years  of  age;  a  stout,  hearty-looking  person,  with  rosy  cheeks  and 
dark,  curly  hair,  blue  e}res  and  black,  heavy  whiskers;  he  is  a  genial, 
generous  and  brave  fellow;  a  practicing  physician;  studied  in  Colum- 
bia College,  afterwards  spent  two  years  in  Paris;  pays  particular 
attention  to  surgery.  Doctor  T.  was  born  in  the  city  of  New  York; 


the  names  of  his  ancestors  are  interwoven  into  our  national  history. 
In  the  old  homestead  now  occupied  by  his  mother,  is  a  bullet  mark 
made  by  a  ball  aimed  at  his  grandfather,  who  was  afterwards  hanged 
by  the  British,  but  cut  down  by  his  friends  before  life  was  extinct. 
Doctor  T.  is  a  lineal  descendant,  in  the  female  line,  of  William  Brew- 
ster,  of  Plymouth  Rock  memory.  He  is  son  of  the  celebrated  Jona- 
than Thompson,  collector  of  the  port  of  New  York — the  man  who 
presided  at  the  first  political  meeting  held  at  Tammany  hall,  and  who 
was  chairman  of  the  general  Republican  committee  for  ten  years,  and 
known  by  the  sobriquet  of  "  honest  Jonathan. 

Dr.  T.  is  one  of  those  attentive  and  efficient  men  who  labor 
assiduously  to  serve  those  who  honor  them  with  their  confidence  and 
their  suffrage.  He  not  only  works  faithfully,  but  intelligently  and 
efficiently,  and  is  one  of  the  most  useful  men  on  the  committee. 

GARDNER  TOWNE 

Was  born  in  New  Hampshire;  came  to  Jefferson  county  in  1806, 
where  he  has  lived  most  of  the  time  since;  he  is  a  farmer,  well-to-do 
in  the  world,  and  has  frequently  had  proof  of  the  confidence  of  his 
neighbors,  who  have  given  him  almost  every  town  and  county  office 
at  their  disposal.  He  is  now  serving  his  second  term  in  the  Senate; 
he  was  formerly  a  Democrat,  is  now  a  true  Republican.  It  affords  us 
pleasure  to  state,  that  he  is  a  temperance  man,  and  has  been  for  many 
years;  he  delivered  the  first  lecture  on  temperance  in  the  county  in 
which  he  resides;  he  attends  the  congregational  church;  is  married; 
sixty  years  of  age;  has  a  large  head,  full,  round,  light  eyes,  a  large 
face,  and  gray  hair;  a  man  of  good  judgment  and  excellent  character. 

INGHAM  TOWNSEND 

Is  a  native  of  the  old  Bay  state,  and  came  to  this  state  in  his  infancy 
with  his  parents,  who  located  in  the  town  of  Floyd,  Oneida  county, 
where  king  David  Moultdn,  the  monarch  of  the  Democrats  of  that 
section  lives.  Mr.  T.  is  a  practical  farmer,  owning  a  fine  estate, 
where  he  now  lives;  he  has  a  dairy  of  190  cows  on  his  farms.  Mr. 
Townsend  has  had  some  military  experience,  having  been  colonel  of 
a  regiment  of  cavalry.  He  is  a  Republican,  and  represents  the  Fourth 
District  of  Oneida  county;  he  is  on  the  agricultural  committee;  is  an 
elder  of  the  Presbyterian  church;  is  a  married  man,  but  has  no  child- 
ren of  his  own;  he  has,  however,  kindly  cared  for  the  children  of 
others.  One  fine  boy  about  three  months  old,  was  left  at  his  door 
one  wintry  night  about  ten  years  ago  (his  parentage  has  not  yet  been 
discovered).  Mr.  T.  is  about  getting  an  act  passed  to  make  this  fortun- 
ate foundling,  one  of  his  legal  heirs.  A  little  girl,  taken  from  the 
"  home  of  the  friendless  "  in  New  York,  and  the  daughter  of  a  rela- 
tive— now  a  handsome,  young  lady,  are  also  to  share  the  munificence 
of  this  generous  and  humane  man. 

Mr.  T.  is  fifty-eight  years  of  age,  of  common  size;  has  a  calm, 
benevolent  face,  mild,  blue  eyes  ;  is  somewhat  bald,  and  of  the  nervous, 
billious  temperament. 


71 

FRANKLIN  TOWNSEND 

Is  one  of  the  solid  men  of  Albany — A  rich  man,  and  the  son  of  a  rich 
man.  He  deserves  great  credit  for  the  manner  in  which  he  has 
devoted  himself  to  intellectual  culture.  Unfortunately,  many  young 
men  in  his  circumstances,  instead  of  reading  and  thinking,  and  acting 
for  themselves,  would  yield  to  the  temptation  of  wealth  and  the  lures 
of  luxury,  and  become  drones*  or  dandies;  but  he  is  a  practical  busi- 
ness man,  whose  habits  of  industry  are  worthy  of  imitation.  For 
several  years  he  has  been  connected  with  one  of  the  leading  firms  in 
Albany,  in  the  iron  trade.  He  has  been  mayor  of  the  city  which 
he  now  represents  in  the  Assembly;  was  formerly  a  Whig,  but  for 
reasons  best  known  to  himself,  he  turned,  Democrat,  and  is  now  a 
leading  and  influential  man  in  the  Democratic  party.  In  the  House 
he  is  regarded  a  sound  man,  of  liberal  views,  and  his  pithy  and  sensi- 
ble speeches  are  always  heard  with  respect.  He  is  on  the  railroad 
committee,  also  on  the  militia  and  agricultural  committee. 

He  is  about  forty  years  of  age  (although  he  looks  much  younger);  of 
ordinary  size  and  stature;  has  light  brown  hair,  full,  blue  eyes,  pale,  in- 
tellectual features,  and  a  brown  goatee;  is  very  urbane  and  pleasant  in 
his  address,  and  graceful  and  dignified  in  his  deportment.  He  main- 
tains a  high  social  position,  and  is  very  popular  in  the  city  and  county 
in  which  he  lives.  With  his  advantages  and  talents,  he  can  climb 
higher  rounds  in  the  ladder  of  distinction. 

ALONZO  S.  UPHAM, 

Known  throughout  the  state  as  the  wagon-boy  of  Le  Roy,  was  origin- 
ally a  carriage-maker,  now  does  an  immense  business  in  Le  Roy,  where 
he  is  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  railroad  cars;  he  is  one  of  the 
best  if  not  the  best  political  manager  in  the  Senate,  and  is  rather  ac- 
knowledged as  the  leader  of  the  Republican  party  in. that  body.  He 
introduced  and  carried  through  the  Senate,  the  bill  for  changing  the 
Canal  policy  of  this  state.  His  speeches  are  short  pointed  and  prac- 
tical. He  is  a  man  of  great  muscular  power,  being  six  feet  in  his 
stockings  and  well  proportioned.  He  has  dark  hair,  light  eyes,  a 
broad  but  not  high  forehead.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Assembly, 
and  he  now  represents  his  district  for  the  third  time  in  the  Senate, 
We  should  like  to  see  him  in  Congress. 

BLOOMFIELD   USHER 

Is  a  native  of  Herkimer  Village,  in  the  county  of  Herkimer.  His 
father  died  when  he  was  young,  and  having  to  depend  upon  his  own 
resources,  he  acquired  a  knowledge  of  the  hatting  trade,  which  he  af- 
terwards carried  on  extensively  on  his  own  account.  In  the  year  1851, 
he  was  appointed  one  of  the  superintendents  on  the  Erie  canal.  At 
the  expiration  of  the  term  of  three  years  he  moved  to  Pottsdam,  St. 
Lawrence  county,  and  commenced  the  banking  business,  which  he  has 
managed  with  marked  success.  Mr.  Usher  is  forty-three  years  of  age, 
of  the  sanguine,  nervous,  billious  temperament,  of  common  stature, 
has  black  hair,  sharp  black  eyes,  red  cheeks  and  smooth  features;  he 
is  a  man  of  ready  business  habits,  a  shrewd  manager,  a  live  politi- 


72 

cian,  with  fair  prospects  ahead.  He  is  a  good  financier;  in  the 
Senate  he  is  attentive  to  business  and  takes  to  legislating  as  though 
he  had  been  born  a  senator.  He  represents  the  Fifteenth  Senatorial 
District,  is  chairman  on  the  committee  of 'state  prisons,  on  the  com- 
mittee of  internal  affairs  of  towns  and  counties,  and  on  manufactures. 

R.  B.  VAN  VALKENBURGH. 

i  f          •       '          .1         f    -      '*        ',j  •      Ji 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  born  in  the  county  of  Steuben,  in 
this  state,  1821,  and  is  therefore  now  about  thirty-five  years  of  age. 
In  1836,  he  attended  school  at  Auburn,  and  went  from  thence  to  the 
city  of  Buffalo,  where  he  was  a  resident  during  the  'patriot'  excite- 
ment, and  was  a  member  of  the  "City  Guard,"  commanded  by  Capt. 
John  T.  Fay.  During  the  prevalance  of  the  Canada  excitement,  he 
enjoyed  intimate  relations  with  Gen.  Sutherland,  of  the  Patriot 
forces,  and  was  tendered  the  appointment  of  aid  to  him,  which  he 
was  prevented  from  accepting  only  through  the  influences  and  inter- 
positions of  his  friends.  However  he  did  his  share  "on  the  right 
side,"  by  aiding  in  cutting  the  steamer  Caroline  out  of  the  ice  in 
Buffalo  harbor,  and  by  a  singular  accident  was  prevented  from  being, 
on  board  of  her  when  she  was  destroyed  by  the  Canadians. 

Col.  Van  Valkenburgh  is  a  lawyer  by  profession  and  commenced 
his  studies  in  the  office  of  the  well  known  firm  of  Henry  W.  Rogers 
and  Joseph  G.  Hasten,  of  the  city  of  Buffalo.  In  1838,  he  returned 
to  Steuben  county,  completing  his  (academic)  education  at  an  institu- 
tion in  Prattsburgh,  in  that  county,  and  soon  after  resumed  his  law- 
studies,  with  industry  and  perseverance,  in  the  office  of  Hon.  D. 
Rumsey,  of  Bath,  being  admitted  in  1843,  since  which  time  he  has 
been  connected  in  business  with  Mr.  R.,  meeting  with  much  success  in 
his  profession.  In  1854  and  1856,  he  was  engaged,  together  with 
Hon.  John  H.  Reynolds,  of  Albany,  before  the  standing  committee  of 
the  Senate,  which  had  in  charge  the  bill  providing  for  the  construc- 
tion of  a  bridge  across  the  Hudson  river,  at  the  city  of  Albany,  and 
there  the  two  met  in  battle  array  some  of  the  best  talents  of  the  state, 
Hon.  Joshua  A.  Spencer,  Hon.  Amasa  J.  Parker,  and  others.  The 
result  of  that  memorable  contest  in  state  legislation,  before  the  com- 
mittee and  in  both  Houses,  is  well  known — the  committee  reported 
favorably  and  the  bill  passed  the  Legislature  and  became  a  law.  In 
1854,  a  favorable  report  was  first  given  by  the  Senate  committee  on  that 
subject,  although  the  matter  had  been  before  the  Legislature,  in  dif- 
ferent shapes,  for  nearly  forty  years. 

In  1851,  he  was  the  Whig  nominee  for  the  Assembly,  and,  although 
the  Democratic  ticket  succeeded  about  400  majority  in  the  District, 
he  was  returned  by  130  majority  over  his  opponent.  He  was  again 
put  on  the  course  by  his  friends,  in  1856 — in  face  of  his  .own  declen- 
sion, and  was  returned  by  about  1,250  majority  over  Hon.  G.  Dennis- 
ton  (Am,),  who  represented  the  District  in  the  Legislature,  last  win- 
ter. In  1852,  Mr.  Van  Valkenburgh  was  appointed  colonel  of  the 
sixtieth  regiment,  New  York  state  militia,  and  in  1855  was  appoint- 
ed by  the  governor  of  the  state,  as  a  member  of  the  commission  to 
make  and  adopt  rules  and  regulations  for  the  government  of  the  state 
military  forces. 


73 

Col.  Van  Valkenburgh,  too,  has  been  connected  with  that  "art  pre- 
servative of  all  arts,"  and  was,  in  1840 — 41,  editor  of  The  Constitu- 
tionalist,  the  Whig  organ  in  the  county  of  Steuben. 

He  is  of  good  stature,  and  has  a  peculiarly  melodious  voice,  very 
like  that  of  Pierre  Soule,  ex-U.  S.  Senator  and  ex-minister  to  Spain, 
although  the  colonel  is  native  "and  to  the  manor  born,"  and  has  not 
the  "accent."  He  is  a  forcible  debater,  as  we  well  remembered  in  the 
Assembly  of  1852,  and,  he  can  be  relied  upon,  is  able  to  vindicate  any 
position  he  may  assume  on  any  question.  In  the  present  House  of 
Assembly  he  occupies  a  prominent  position.  As  chairman  of  the  com- 
mittee which  has  under  consideration  matters  pertaining  to  the  city 
of  New  York,  in  which  its  good  government,  municipal  and  political 
is  concerned.  Personally  Col.  Van  Valkenburgh  is  pleasing  and 
agreeable,  and  has  deserved  all  the-  kindness  "and  confidence  that  he 
has  received  at  the  hands  of  his  constituents  and  his  friends. 

We  copy  the  above  from  the  New  York  Sun.  Mr.  Van  Valkenburgh 
is  a  tall  handsome  man,  with  dark  hair  and  full  dark  eyes,  even  and 
ruddy  features,  and  is  really  one  of  the  most  noticeable  men  in  the 
House. 

ADAM  VAN  ALLEN    roV 

Was  born  in  the  town  of  New  Scotland,  Albany  county,  is  now  44 
years  old,  and  next  the  eldest  of  6  brothers — all  Republicans  in  the 
fullest  sense  of  the  word — were  previously  all  Whigs,  as  was  their 
father,  who  during  his  life  time  held  various  town  offices.  At  the  age 
of  14  he  came  to  Albany  with  his  whole  patrimony  (viz:  a  5  franc 
piece,  which  he  yet  possesses),  followed  by  his  mother's  prayers;  is 
now  engaged  in  the  lumber  trade  and  has  been  successful  in  all  his 
business  operations;  is  a  member  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  church  in 
the  city  of  Albany,  as  were  his  parents;  has  been  alderman  of  the 
ward,  in  which  he  lived,  afterwards  supervisor  two  years,  when  he 
retired  from  business  and  devoted  himself  to  agriculture  for  two  years. 
Again  returned  to  the  city  when  his  constituents  again  returned  him 
to  the  board  of  supervisors  for  3  successive  years  and  until  he  posi- 
tively declined  being  a  candidate  for  any  office.  Mr.  Van  Allen  is  a  man 
of  sterling  integrity  and  great  moral  worth,  and  extraordinary  good 
sense,  not  a  talker,  but  a  worker.  He  is  chairman  of  the  committee 
on  banks  and  a  member  of  the  committee  of  sixteen.  In  person  he  is 
rather  of  full  habit,  has  a  round  healthy  face,  lit  up  with  expressive 
eyes,  wears  "mutton  chop"  whiskers,  and  is  somewhat  bald  on  the 
crown.  He  is  a  self-made  man  and  is  one  of  the  substantial  men  of 
the  city  of  Albany.  He  has  a  host  of  friends  in  the  House  and  com- 
mands a  large  amount  of  influence  in  the  political  and  social  circles 
in  which  he  moves. 

JOSEPH  B.  VARNUM,  JR. 

Was  born  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  in  the  year  1817,  and  hence,  has  now 
arrived  at  the  age  of  about  forty  years.  He  is  the  son  of  H.  M.  Var- 
num  and  the  grandson  of  Gen.  J.  B.  Varnum,  who  was  for  more  than 
twenty  years  a  member  of  Congress  from  Massachusetts,  speaker  of 
the  House  of  Representatives,  and  president  of  the  Senate.  Speaker 
Varnum  took  with  him  to  Washington  his  son  James,  who  marrie 


74 

and  settled  there,  becoming  largely  interested  in  property  at  the  capital 
city,  but  died  in  1821;  and  what  is  singular,  is,  that  his  father  died 
on  the  same  day  at  his  residence  in  Massachusetts;  the  letters  an- 
nouncing their  respective  deaths  having  passed  each  other  on  their 
way.  On  the  same  day  and  month,  twenty-five  years  afterward,  his 
widow  died,  in  the  city  of  Washington ;  some  17  years  previous  to 
which  she  had  married  Hon.  John  Varnum,  of  Massachusetts,  (a  dis- 
tant relative  of  her  first  husband)  who  went  into  Michigan,  some 
twenty  years  ago,  and  died  there.  These  particulars  are  given  because 
of  the  fact  that  the  subject  of  our  sketch  has  frequently  been  set  down 
as  the  son  of  Speaker  Varnum,  of  John  Varnum,  and  of  an  uncle  of 
the  same  name,  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  in  New  York,  in 
distinction  from  whom  he  adds  to  his  name  "Junior."  What  might  be 
added  as'an  additional  "coincidence"  is,  that  both  uncle  and  nephew 
married  sisters;  and  hence  some  confusion  has  ensued  from  the  iden- 
tity of  names  and  connections. 

Of  Mr.  Varnum's  early  life  we  know  but  little.  He  graduated  at 
"Old  Yale"  in  1838,  studied  law  in  the  office  of  Chief  Justice  Taney, 
in  Baltimore,  where,  he  was  admitted  to.  the  bar,  but  subsequently 
moved  to  New  York,  where  he  entered  into  practice,  and  where  he 
has  met  with  success  in  his  profession.  In  1849,  he  was  an  advocate 
of  Gov.  Seward's  election,  and  was  himself  returned  to  the  Legis- 
lature (the  same  fall)  where  he  took  an  active  part  in  the  well  known 
"railroad  controversies."  He  was  again  returned  in  1850 — '51,  to  the 
Assembly,  and  during  the  extra  session  of  that  year  was  speaker  of 
that  body,  in  the  place  of  Mr.  Raymond,  who  went  upon  a  European 
tour.  In  1852  he  declined  a  re-election,  and  in  1853  was  the  Whig 
candidate  for  Congress  in  the  Sixth  District  of  the  city  of  New  York, 
But  was  beaten  by  John  Wheeler  (Dem.)  and  shared  the  fate  of  others, 
who  "sailed  in"  on  the  Whig  platform,  but  "went  down"  with 
Gen.  Scott,  and  other  WThig  candidates  "too  numerous  to  mention," 
as  they  say  in  the  handbills. 

He  was  nominated  in  the  fall  of  1855,  by  the  Americans,  for  As- 
sembly, from  the  Fifteenth  Ward,  but  declined,  and  Hon.  Wm.  A. 
Guest  was  nominated,  who  was  elected  over  Hon.  F.  A*  Conkling 
(Rep.)  and  the  Democratic  candidate,  Mr.  Guest,  was  re-nominated 
last  fall  by  the  Americans,  but  declined  running,  when  Mr.  Varnum 
was  taken  up  by  them,  and  elected.  In  the  Fiiteenth  Ward  (which 
comprises  the  16th  Assembly  District),  the  American  candidates  were 
all  defeated,  except  Mr.  Varnum,  who  must  have  received  some  Re- 
publican and  Democratic  votes  to  elect  him.  In  politics,  Mr.  Varnum 
has  always  been  a  Whig,  and  inclined  to  "  Silver  Grey,"  or  what  is 
called  in  more  modern  times,  "Straight  Whig"  side,  on  the  slavery 
question.  He  is  understood  to  sympathize  with  the  Americans  in  all 
their  sentiments,  but  not  in  all  their  anti-catholic  views,  and  agrees 
with  the  Republicans  in  condemning  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Com- 
promise, and  its  result — but  regards  the  general  question  of  the  ex- 
tension of  slavery  in  new  territories  as  one  which  can  only  be  pro- 
perly settled  by  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States,  or  by  some 


75 

new  compromise  between  the  (so-called)  sections  of  the  Union,  con- 
sidering the  constitutional  question  as  not  so  clear  on  either  side,  and 
therefore  as  not  properly  the  subject  of  political  warfare.  These  con- 
clusions are,  probably,  the  result  of  his  long  residence  on  "  neutral 
ground,''  the  district  of  Columbia. 

Mr.  Varnum  is  very  pleasing  in  his  personal  relations,  and  has  cer- 
tainly met  with  his  due  share  of  success  in  his  political  life.  Politics, 
like  railroad  stocks,  are  fluctuating,  and  very  uncertain,  and,  in  our 
opinion,  (judging  from  our  own  experience),  one  needs  a  great  deal 
of  fortitude  and  perseverance — not  to  say  anything  of  energy  and 
talent — to  always  ride  triumphant  on  the  wave  of  success.  Mr.  Var- 
num is  an  effective  speaker,  convincing  more  by  the  force  of  his 
reasoning  than  by  eloquent  peroration  or  passionate  invective,  and  is 
as  happy  in  his  conclusions  as  he  is  forcible  in  argument.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  committee  on  ways  and  means  and  of  the  committee 
on  the  incorporation  of  cities  and  villages,  and  has  a  most  arduous  as 
weft  as  a  most  responsible  duty  to  perform. — N.  Y.  Sun. 

Mr.  Varnum  is  a  fine  looking  man,  has  dark  hair,  touched  with  sil- 
ver; wears  a  heavy  beard,  has  an  honest  face,  and  wears  spectacles, 
speaks  with  great  earnestness  and  eloquence  when  interested  in 
debate. 

DAVID  WHITNEY 

Represents  the  First  District  in  Greene  cotlnty;  is  a  merchant  and 
manufacturer,  keeps  a  coal  yard,  owns  a  sloop  on  the  North  River;  is  a 
Democrat,  a  temperance  man,  a  deacon  in  the  Dutch  Reformed  church. 
He  is  47  years  of  age,  has  light  hair  and  blue  eyes;  not  a  speaker;  a 
very  careful,  cautious  man.  He  is  a  member  of  the  committee  on 
trades  and  manufactures. 

CHAUNCEY  R.  WEEKS 

Was  in  the  Assembly  in  1848,  and  was,  at  that  time,  a  Whig;  he  is 
now  a  Republican.  His  father  was  in  the  House  forty-four  years  ago 
and  effected  the  organization  of  Putnam  county  from  Dutchess,  and 
gave  the  grounds  to  the  county  for  the  county  buildings. 

Mr.  Weeks  is  about  forty-five  years  of  age;  was  born  in  Putnam 
county.  He  learned  a  trade,  but  afterwards  engaged  in  the  menagerie 
business  and  imported  large  numbers  of  wild  animals — lions,  tigers, 
leopards,  elephants,  camels,  &c.,  &c.  He  has  also  been  engaged  in 
mercantile  pursuits.  He  owns  a  farm  and  has  an  interest  in  some  of 
the  boats  on  the  North  river. 

He  attends  the  Presbyterian  church ;  is  a  man  of  fortune.  He  sel- 
dom speaks,  but  always  votes  according  to  his  convictions  of  right  and 
duty.  He  is  an  honest,  upright,  whole-souled  man,  of  standing  and 
character,  whose  word  is  as  good  as  a  bond.  Although  he  does  not 
take  a  very  active,  or,  rather,  noisy  part  in  the  proceedings  of  the 
House,  he  has  none  the  less  influence  on  that  account.  He  is  on  the 
committee  on  state  prisons. 

He  is  a  tall,  well-formed  man,  quite  gray;  has  a  round,  handsome 
face,  brown  eyes  and  pleasant  address. 


76 

SETH  WAKEMAN 

Is  one  of  the  most  efficient  and  influential  members  in  the  House, 
being  an  earnest,  intelligent  and  untiring  worker,  a  man  of  fine  in" 
tellect  and  unexceptionable  character,  a  ready  debater  and  a  cogent 
reasoner. 

He  is  a  self-made  man;  was  left  an  orphan,  his  father  dying  during 
the  last  war,  while  in  the  service  of  his  country. 

He  first  learned  a  trade.  When  of  age  he  was  elected  constable; 
being  in  a  justice's  office  frequently,  he,  by  force  of  circumstances, 
occasionally  attended  suits  before  a  justice,  and  was  finally  persuaded 
by  his  friends  to  commence  the  study  of  law. 

He  was  twenty- six  years  of  age  at  the  time  he  commenced  reading 
law,  and  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace,  a  position  he  held  for  several 
years.  He  now  stands  at  the  head  of  the  bar  as  a  jury  lawyer  in 
Genesee  county. 

He  was  district  attorney  six  years,  county  treasurer  one  year,  one 
of  the  superintendents  of  the  poor  two  years. 

He  was  a  member  last  year,  being  elected  in  a  district  where  the 
opposite  party  had  previously  carried  the  elections  triumphantly.  He 
stood  by  the  prohibitory  law  then,  and  will  this  year  discharge  his 
duty  conscientiously  on  the  great  subject  of  temperance. 

He  is  chairman  of  the  committee  on  commerce  and  navigation,  and 
second  on  the  judiciary  and  railroad  committees. 

He  is  a  very  agreeable,  social  man,  well  constituted  to  win  friends 
and  keep  them.  It  is  generally  conceded,  that  he  is  one  of  the  ablest 
men  in  the  House. 

In  person  he  is  of  medium  stature,  has  mild  blue  eyes,  a  pale  plea- 
sant face,  light  brown  hair,  and  a  well-developed  head. 

He  speaks  spontaneously,  and  with  considerable  unction. 

JAMES  WADS  WORTH 

Is  a  tall  son  of  York,  finely  formed,  with  dark  hair,  large  soul-lit 
eyes  and  pale  features.  He  is  perhaps  the  most  eloquent  man  in  the 
Senate,  that  is,  he  pays  more  attention  to  the  rules  of  rhetoric  and 
the  flowers  of  speech,  than  any  other  man  in  that  body.  He  is  related 
to  the  great  Wadsworth  family  living  in  the  western  part  of  the  state, 
is  a  lawyer,  about  forty  years  of  age  and  belongs  to  the  purer  class  of 
politicians.  He  is  a  Democrat;  is  on  the  judiciary  committee  and 
the  joint  library  committee ;  takes  a  deep  interest  in  the  Toll  question 
and  the  affairs  of  Trinity  Church.  Mr.  Wadsworth  would  attract 
notice  in  any  deliberative  assembly.  As  a  speaker  he  would  compare 
favorably  with  many  of  the  most  distinguished  floor  members  of 
Congress. 

JAMES  WESTERVELT 

Hails  from  New  Jersey;  went  to  the  city  of  New  York  when  about 
eleven  years  of  age;  is  a  mechanic,  a  master-builder.  He  now  lives 
in  Rockland  county  and  represents  it  in  the  Assembly;  has  held  many 
offices  of  honor  and  trust  in  the  town  where  he  resides  and  had  suffi- 
cient popularity  to  defeat  the  combined  forces  of  his  political  oppo- 


77 

nents.  He  is  a  fine,  fresh  looking  man,  in  the  prime  of  life;  has  a 
full,  round,  rosy  face,  blue  eyes  and  brown  hair;  he  is  an  agreeable 
man,  fond  of  a  joke  but  attentive  to  business;  he  is  on  the  committee 
of  expenditures  of  the  House. 

ARTHUR  WOODS. 

Mr.  Woods  is  a  valuable  and  useful  member  on  the  floor.  His 
familiarity  with  parliamentary  rules  renders  him  a  troublesome  oppo- 
nent, and  at  the  same  time  enables  him  to  frequently  carry  his  point 
even  against  the  opposition  of  a  majority.  The  experience  he  has 
had  in  the  House  has  been  diligently  improved,  and  he  is  never  at  a 
loss  for  a  rule  by  which  to  support  and  enforce  a  point  of  order.  In 
debate,  there  are  few  more  ready  speakers  on  the  floor,  and  none 
more  prompt  in  an  off-hand,  unpremeditated  speech.  His  appearance 
is  prepossessing  and  his  voice  |good  and  style  of  speaking  unequal, 
sometimes  making  capital  hits,  at  other  times  sinking  below  his 
standard.  Probably  no  member  of  the  present  session  is  more 
troublesome  to  the  majority  or  more  dreaded  by  them  when  any  politi- 
cal party  measure  is  before  the  House. 

Mr.  Woods  has  a  ready  flow  of  language,  and  a  quick  conception 
of  his  subject.  He  is  never  at  a  loss  for  words,  and  the  faci- 
lity with  which  he  enters  into  the  debate  on  any  bill,  evinces  a 
good  store  of  general  information.  In  politics  he  is  consistent  and 
unyielding,  always  fighting  to  the  "  bitter  end  "  for  pure  Democratic 
principles,  and  never  setting  aside  his  political  sentiments  for  the  sake 
of  expediency.  He  is  constantly  in  his  seat,  and  entitles  himself  as 
much  by  his  diligence  and  industry,  as  by  his  abilities,  to  the  confi- 
dence of  the  important  constituency  he  represents.  The  above  was 
written  by  a  reporter  from  New  York. 

Mr.  W.  is  a  native  of  New  York,  of  Irish  descent — was  early  left 
an  orphan,  and  owing  to  a  suit  at  law,  the  property  left  by  .his 
father  was  sacrificed.  He,  with  his  brother,  however,  by  their 
industry,  economy,  and  enterprise,  acquired  a  handsome  property. 
Mr.  W.  is  a  Catholic,  a  mechanic,  a  bachelor,  a  member  of  the  com- 
mittee on  insurance. 

JOHN  H.  VVOOSTER 

Has  had  some  experience  as  a  legislator.  He  is  now  serving  his  second 
term  as  a  law-maker.  He  comes  before  the  public  with  a  good  name, 
won  by  his  lamented  father  in  the  front  rank  of  true  democracy.  He 
is  a  practicing  lawyer  in  the  town  of  Newport,  and  is  considered  one 
of  the  ablest  men  in  the  profession  in  the  county. 

During  the  recent  campaign,  he  rendered  good  service  in  the  state 
of  New  York,  and  in  the  state  of  Pennsylvania,  addressing  thousands 
of  persons,  on  the  great  issue  involved  in  the  presidential  contest. 

He  has  studied  the  political  history  of  the  country,  and  made  him- 
self thoroughly  familiar  with  the  great  question,  which  absorbed  all 
others  in  the  late  canvass.  Mr.  Wooster  is  a  rigid  reasoner,  dry  and 
logical;  tropes,  images  and  figures  of  rhetoric,  seldom  if  ever  embel- 
lish his  speeches,  but  his  arguments  are  sound,  practical  and  con- 


78 

vincing.  When  assailed  by  an  opponent,  he  can  be  very  severe,  and 
is  disposed  to  lay  on  the  lash  without  mercy. 

We  are  not  positive,  but  it  is  our  impression  that  he  is  not  in  favor 
of  the  Maine  law  in  all  its  provisions,  although  personally  temperate 
in  his  habits.  He  is  a  small  slender  man,  with  light  brown  hair,  blue 
eyes  and  a  thin  spare  face. 

He  has  every  qualification  for  a  leading  member  of  the  Legislature, 
and  we  have  no  doubt  he  will  take  a  prominent  part  in  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  Legislature. 

Mr.  Wooster  studied  law  with  the  Hon.  Ezra  Graves,  and  was  elect- 
ed to  a  seat  in  the  state  Legislature  in  1857.  He  is  a  native  of  New- 
port, son  of  Judge  S.  Wooster,  and  is  about  38  years  of  age. 


OFFICERS  OF  THE  HOUSE. 


WILLIAM  RICHARDSON, 

Clerk,  was  born  at  Great  Berkhamstead  in  the  county  of  Hertford- 
shire, England  (the  birthplace  of  the  poet  Cowper).  He  is  thirty- 
five  years  of  age  and  the  eldest  of  a  family  of  nine  children,  six  of 
whom  are  now  living.  When  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  five  years 
of  age,  his  father  moved  to  London,  where  he  resided  seven  years. 
Sailed  for  this  country  in  1834.  On  his  arrival  in  this  country,  went 
to  Ohio  and  was  soon  after  apprenticed  to  the  printing  business  at  Mt. 
Vernon,  worked  at  the  business  about  twelve  months,  when  the  con- 
cern failed  and  he  was  obliged  to  leave;  in  '37  went  into  a  store  in 
the  capacity  of  clerk. 

In  1840  he  moved  to  Albany  which  was  then  alive  with  the  "log  cabin" 
excitement.  He  was  a  Harrison  boy  and  heartily  sympathized  with 
the  Whigs.  In  '41  he  was  employed  as  clerk  in  the  Hudson  Street 
Temperance  House,  the  next  year  he  went  into  the  umbrella  business, 
sold  out  in  '46  and  opened  a  paper  ware-house ;  was  married  in  '44  to 
Miss  Mary  Freeman.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church,  was  first 
Grand  Worthy  Associate  of  the  Grand  Division  of  S.  of  T.  of  Western 
New  York,  was  a  Liberty  Party  man  in  '44,  a  Free  Democrat  in  '48, 
and  Republican  in  '56.  The  following  sketch  of  his  personal  appear- 
ance we  copy  from  group  of  sketches  in  the  "Ilion  Independent." 

"The  very  attitude  of  the  one  at  the  left  of  Ives,  indicates  one  of 
the  prominent  traits  of  the  man.  He  leans  upon  the  table,  as  he  leans 
upon  his  friends,  confident  that  it  will  not  fail  him.  His  form  is  manly 
full,  and  perfect,  in  its  development.  He  is  healthy,  in  body  and  soul, 
and  upon  his  broad,  full  face,  and  in  his  blue  eye,  there  is  stamped,  in 
unmistakable  language,  the  impress  of  our  noblest  manhood.  Neither 
do  his  natures  belie  him,  he  is  one  of  nature's  noble  men.  The  stranger 
would  trust  him,  and  boldly  make  a  draft  for  kindness  and  truth,  nor 
would  the  draft  be  dishonored.  His  complexion,  is  as  fair  as  a  child's, 
his  countenance  as  sunny  and  trusting.  But  the  man  is  full  grown  and 
full  of  iron.  We  know  of  none  who  act  more  singly  from  their  con- 
victions of  duty,  or  who  have  more  moral  courage.  He  is  one  of  the 
world's  tireless  workers.  In  convention,  or  committee,  or  in  the  open 
field,  he  will  perform  more  labor,  in  a  given  time,  and  more  thorough- 


80 

ly  and  quietly,  than  any  man  we  ever  knew.  He  is  prompt  and  clear 
headed,  as  a  parliamentarian;  in  his  hospitality  unbounded;  in  his  aid, 
to  every  good  work,  generous;  in  his  friendships  warm  and  unwaver- 
ing. He  never  wearies,  in  carrying  out  his  purposes;  has  a  host  of 
friends;  and  in  his  private  and  social  relations,  a  complete  and  mo- 
del man." 

WILLIAM  E.  MILLS,  Assistant  Clerk,  is  from  Clarence,  Erie 
county.  He  is  thirty-seven  years  of  age,  about  the  common  stature; 
has  a  full,  pleasant  face,  blue  eyes  and  brown  hair;  he  is  a  real  good 
fellow,  and  true  gentleman;  he  is  unmarried. 

A.  N.  COLE,  Engrossing  Clerk,  is  a  thin,  lathy  man,  with  dark 
eyes  and  pale  features.  He  is  an  able  writer,  and  the  editor  of  an  influ- 
ential journal  in  Wellsville.  He  is  about  thirty-eight  years  of  age,  a 
civil  and  obliging  man.  May  his  shadow  never  be  less. 

CORNELIUS  S.  UNDERWOOD,  Journal  Clerk. — His  position  is  a  labor- 
ious one,  but  he  has  performed  its  duties  with  entire  satisfaction  to 
all  concerned.  He  is  a  practical  printer,  forty-two  years  of  age;  is 
tall  and  straight;  has  brown  hair,  blue  eyes,  and  auburn  whiskers. 
He  resides  in  Auburn,  Cayuga  county.  He  has  an  army  of  friends  in 
the  House. 

LUTHER  CALDWELL,  Deputy  Clerk,  is  thirty-four  years  of  age, 
married;  a  mechanic,  in  the  employment  of  the  New  York  &  Erie 
railroad;  a  county  politician,  and  a  stump  speaker — the  grand  expel- 
led arch  traitor  to  Fillmore  Hindooism,  others  expelled  for  their 
independence  being  only  ordinary  traitors.  Mr.  C.  is  a  man  of  ave- 
rage stature ;  has  brown  hair  and  whiskers,  laughing  eyes  and  a  fluent 
tongue. 

C.  G.  FAIRMAN,  Senior  Deputy,  is  just  what  his  name  implies,  a 
fair  man,  save  in  complexion — that  is  dark,  and  his  eyes  are  black  as 
sloes.  He  is  rather  under  the  medium  size,  good-looking,  polite  and 
pleasant,  frank  and  free  from  affectation.  He  has  been  connected 
with  the  press,  and  writes  with  considerable  nerve  and  force.  He  is 
thirty- five  years  of  age,  and  married;  a  printer  by  trade. 

E.  S.  PAYNE,  Librarian,  is  a  gentlemanly  man,  quiet  and  dignified 
in  his  demeanor,  short  but  trim  built;  has  a  light  complexion  and 
large,  blue  eyes.  He  has  been  superintendent  on  the  canal,  and  has 
held  other  offices. 

SMITH  PHILIPS,  Assistant  Librarian,  is  from  Montgomery  county. 
He  is  a  young  man,  formerly  a  Democrat;  decimated  while  in  the 
post  office  because  of  his  Republican  principles.  He  is  quite  lame; 
has  dark  hair,  an  open  countenance  and  pleasant  address. 

N.  P.  HITCHCOCK  is  Sergeant-at-Arms.  He  is  a  native  of  Hines- 
burgh,  Vt.,  born  in  1810,  was  brought  up  to  the  trade  of  a  machinist. 
He  left  the  green  mountain  state  when  a  child,  and  has  since  lived  in 
Central  New  York;  has  kept  hotel  at  Chenango  and  Utica  for  many 
years.  Was  formerly  a  Democrat,  joined  the  Free  Soilers  in  '48,  and 
early  united  with  the  Republican  party.  He  attends  the  Universalist 
church,  is  a  married  man,  took  to  politics  when  a  boy,  was  in  the 
State  Soft  Convention  at  Syracuse  at  the  time  of  the  Short  Boy  row, 


81 

served  as  under  sheriff  in  Chenango,  and  supervisor  in  Utica;  speaks 
in  public  occasionally.  He  is  traveling  agent  for  J.  D.  Bridges,  a 
hardware  dealer.  He'is  just  the  man  for  the  post  he  occupies,  is 
courteous  and  obliging,  and  yet  preserves  the  best  of  order.  He  has 
a  pleasant  face,  the  index  of  a  kind  heart,  is  of  nervous  sanguine 
temperament,  has  blue  eyes,  and  brown  hair  and  whiskers.  He  is  a 
universal  favorite. 

DANIEL  M.  PRESCOTT,  Assistant  Sergeant-at-Arms,  was  born  in  New 
Hartford;  is  38  years  of  age,  a  farmer,  was  a  Whig,  attends  the  Uni- 
versalist  church,  is  a  temperance  man  and  a  married  man. 

He  is  about  five  feet  ten  inches  in  hight,  of  fair  proportions,  has 
brown  hair,  large  blue  eyes,  a  full,  round  face,  is  noted  for  his  kind- 
ness and  civility. 

Mr.  Prescott  is  a  brother  to  Hon.  Amos  Prescott,  who  occupied  a 
prominent  position  in  the  House  in  1856. 

GEORGE  R.  WALDRON,  is  the  Post  Master,  a  post  he  fills  to  the  sa- 
tisfaction of  all  persons  connected  with  the  House. 

He  was  born  in  Mechanicsville,  Saratoga  county;  is  a  practical 
printer  and  senior  editor  of  the  "  Democratic  Republican,"  an  able 
and  influential  journal,  published  at  Hamilton,  Madison  county. 

He  has  been  connected  with  the  "Hamilton  Eagle,"  and  the  "Ham- 
ilton Courier." 

He  was  a  Democrat  up  to  the  time  of  the  Cincinnati  convention, 
when  he  bolted  at  the  nomination  of  Buchanan. 

Is  a  member  of  the  Congregational  church;  is  a  temperance  man 
from  principle,  in  theory  and  practice. 

He  is  forty  years  of  age,  has  a  full  forehead,  light  brown  hair,  light 
blue  eyes  and  a  pale  face.  He  is  a  quiet,  modest  man,  and  commands 
a  ready  and  vigorous  pen. 

HUGH  MAGKE,  Assistant  Postmaster,  is  a  native  of  Ontario  countv; 
now  lives  in  Steuben  county;  is  60  years  of  age,  upwards  of  six  feet 
in  height,  weighs  about  170  pounds;  has  been  a  printer.  He,  with 
his  father  and  two  brothers,  was  engaged  in  the  war  in  1812;  was  in 
six  different  engagements,  and  was  severely  wounded  in  the  battle  of 
Long  Woods,  Canada;  is  a  pensioner;  was  a  radical  Democrat  in 
the  days  of  Clinton  and  Tompkins;  always  opposed  slavery;  attends 
the  Methodist  church.  Is  always  at  his  post,  and  is  universally 
respected  foV  boldness,  benevolence  and  integrity. 

GURDON  B.  TAYLOR,  Janitor,  was  born  in  Delaware  county,  1819, 
now  hails  from  Orleans  county;  is  a  farmer;  was  a  Democrat,  taking 
Free  Soil  ground,  in  1848;  joined  the  Republicans  when  their  party 
was  inaugurated;  is  a  temperance  man;  attends  the  Baptist  church; 
in  person  is  of  ordinary  stature,  hair  dark,  eyes  grayish  blue,  face 
rather  thin ;  wears  heavy  whiskers ;  is  very  prompt  and  attentive  to 
business,  and  is  very  highly  esteemed;  although  a  young  man,  he  is 
now  living  with  his  second  wife. 

JOHN  F.  CURTIS,  Keeper  of  the  Assembly  Chamber,  was  born  in 
the  town  of  Norway,  llerkimer  county,  N.  Y.,  in  1801;  by  the  death 
of  a  fond  father,  was  left  in  early  life  dependent  on  his  own  resources, 


82 

for  support.  Being  possessed  of  a  kind  and  amiable  disposition,  with 
firmness  and  consczenciousness  large,  and  self-esteem  low,  his  qualities 
and  worth  are  only  to  be  known  and  appreciated  by  acquaintance 
and  observation.  His  business  has  been  mechanical  and  mercantile; 
has  held  most  of  the  town  offices,  and  is  now  supervisor  of  the  town 
where  he  resides. 

He  acted  with  the  Democratic  party  until  1848,  when  a  sense  of 
justice  impelled  him  to  advocate  the  Free  Soil  principles,  in  which  he 
has  been  constant  and  active,  and  consequently  is  now  a  Republican. 
He  is  now  fifty-five  years  of  age;  is  five  feet  nine  inches  high;  has 
black  eyes,  dark  hair,  and  light  complexion.  He  resides  in  the  town 
of  Huron,  Wayne  county,  N.  Y. 

NATHAN  NEWHAFER,  Door-Keeper,  is  a  native  of  Wittenberg, 
Germany — the  famous  town  where  Martin  Luther  nailed  his  thesis  to 
the  church  door.  Mr.  N.  came  to  this  country  in  1844.  He  is  a 
general  agent  for  the  sale  of  land  and  insurance;  lives  in  the  city 
of  Rochester;  is  forty-one  years  of  age;  has  dark  hair  and  dark  eyes; 
speaks  with  the  peculiar  accent  of  his  people.  He  is  a  married  man; 
is  an  Israelite,  a  very  polite  and  agreeable  person.  Has  held  office 
in  Rochester. 

JOHN  LEWIS  is  one  of  the  Assistant  Door-Keepers,  a  post  he  filled 
with  credit  three  years  since.  Mr.  L.  is  a  native  of  Wales;  came  to 
this  country  twenty- three  years  ago,  and  located  in  Oneida  county, 
where  he  followed  farming.  He  now  lives  in  Cattaraugus  county, 
where  he  "  speculates  "  in  butter  and  cheese.  Mr.  L.  is  a  pleasant, 
sociable,  polite  old  gentleman,  sixty  years  of  age,  is  short  and  stout- 
built;  has  gray  hair,  a  full  face,  blue  eyes  and  bushy  eye-brows.  His 
door  is  directly  back  of  our  desk,  and  we  have  frequent  opportunities 
to  test  his  urbanity.  He  is  strict  and  faithful,  and  performs  the  func- 
tions of  his  office  to  the  very  letter  without  giving  offence  to  any. 
Long  may  he  wave  (the  gate). 

He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church  for  fory-two  years, 
and  has  been  a  deacon  in  the  church  for  more  than  twenty  years.  He 
•Was,  originally  a  Whig,  is  now  a  Republican ;  has  labored  industriously 
and  successfully  among*  the  Welsh — an  estimable  class  of  citizens — 
among  whom  he  occupies  a  prominent  position. 

SLUMAN  FRINK  was  born  in  Albany  county ;  is  forty  years  of  age ; 
formerly  a  Whig,  now  a  Republican;  attends  the  Presbyterian  church ; 
is  a  married  man;  has  fair  hair,  blue  eyes,  and  pale  complexion.  He 
takes  the  place  of  PATRICK  FARREL,  First  Assistant  Door-Keeper. 

A.  A.  HAKRIS,  Door-Keeper  of  the  Gentlemen's  Gallery,  is  from  Erie 
county;  is  forty  years  of  age;  attends  the  Orthodox  church;  was  door- 
keeper in  1849;  was  assistant  engineer  in  1850,  when  the  Capitol 
went  by  steam. 

A.  H.  STOUTENBURGH  has  charge  of  the  Ladies'  Gallery,  was  born  in 
the  city  of  New  York,  is  fifty  years  of  age;  was  brought  up  a  mer- 
chant; formerly  a  Whig;  has  held  office  under  the  general  government, 
is  an  earnest  politician;  is  five  feet  nine  inches  in  hight  erect  and  of 


83 

good  build;  has  blue  eyes  and  dark  hair,  dresses  fashionably  and  waits 
upon  the  ladies  politely. 

S.  WHEELER  is  one  of*  the  Assistant  Door-Keepers,  the  only  officer 
who  was  reappointed,  he  having  served  in  that  capacity  last  year;  he 
probably  owes  that  compliment  to  his  urbanity,  and  uniform  courtesy, 
and  the  efforts  of  his  friends.  He  is  from  Dover,  is  thirty  years  of 
age  and  is  a  merchant.  He  was  formerly  a  Whig,  is  now  a  Republican; 
attends  the  Baptist  church,  is  married,  has  been  justice  and  super- 
visor, also  one  of  the  associate  judges  of  the  county  of  Dutchess;  he 
is  rather  under  the  medium  size,  has  light  complexion,  brown  hair, 
and  blue  eyes,  attends  properly  to  his  business,  and  treats  all  with 
that  civility  which  is  so  cheap  and  yet  so  scarce  among  men  who  oc- 
cupy official  position. 

S.  H.  ROGERS  is  one  of  the  Assistant  Door-Keepers,  a  native  of  Sid- 
ney Plains,  Delaware.  He  is  twenty-five  years  of  age ;  is  a  Republican, 
attends  the  Presbyterian  church;  he  is  a  tall,  strong  man,  has  brown 
hair  and  blue  eyes  and  is  very  attentive  to  the  duties  of  his  office. 

NATHAN  CHAMBERLAIN,  Assistant  Door-Keeper,  is  from  Jefferson 
county,  occupied  the  same  post  in  1852,  was  a  Whig,  attends  the 
Methodist  church,  is  a  farmer,  is  44  years  of  age,  a  married  man,  has 
auburn  hair,  blue  eyes,  full  face,  and  a  generous  nature. 


OFFICERS  OF  THE  SENATE. 

J  t  ,,r , 

*^  .  •  ..?.'>• 

The  crowded  state  of  our  pages  preclude  the  possibility  of  our  do< 
ing  justice  to  the  gentlemanly  officers  of  the  Senate.  For  sketches  in 
extenso  see  the  "Ilion  Independent,"  where  the  history  of  each  one 
will  be  written  elaborately. 

SAMUEL  P.  ALLEN,  Clerk  of  the  Senate,  is  the  editor  of  the  Roches- 
ter Democrat,  is  a  practical  printer,  about  forty  years  of  age,  a  native 
of  Chenango  county;  he  is  a  man  of  sound  judgment  and  a  good  po- 
litical writer. /)TL|f  j 

JAMES  TERWILLEGAR,  Journal  Clerk,  has  been  connected  with  the 
press ;  is  about  thirty  years  of  age. 

CHARLES  R.  DAYTON,  Engrossing  Clerk,  is  a  farmer,  about  thirty- 
three  years  of  age ;  has  been  deputy  before. 

WALDO  M.  POTTER  is  Miscellaneous  Clerk  and  Assistant  Clerk  in 
reading,  a  practical  printer,  editor  and  lawyer,  thirty-three  years  of 
age. 

DEWITT  S.  STANFORD   is  also  a  Miscellaneous  Clerk;  has  been  a  . 
trader ;  is  about  thirty-six  years  of  age. 

E.  D.  WEBSTER,  Librarian,  is  a  printer  and  editor  and  reporter. 

SAMUEL  R.  TUELL,  Sergeant-at-Arms,  is  freight  master  at  the  depot 
in  Syracuse,  is  about  thirty-five  years  of  age. 

DAVID  EVERETT,  Assistant  Sergeant-at-Arms  and  Post  Master,  is 
about  forty  years  of  age. 

W.  COPPERNOLL,  Door-Keeper,  is  a  farmer,  about  forty  years  of  age. 

NATHANIEL  GOODWIN  and  H.  W.  SHIPMAN  are  Assistant  Door- 
Keep  ers. 

N.  FINNEQAN  is  a  Messenger  and  has  charge  of  the  Senate  docu- 
ments. 


L  006  1  76  11 8  5 


iiiilp 

A    001  337  706    4 


